LAHORE – Pakistani music has been quietly removed from Indian streaming platforms — most notably Spotify — after the Indian government issued an advisory on May 8 instructing digital platforms to take down all Pakistani-origin content.
According to NDTV, popular songs like ‘Maand’, ‘Jhol’, and ‘Faasle’ vanished from Spotify India starting Wednesday night. The move comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, which India attributes to Pakistan-based groups. Pakistan, in response, has strongly rejected the allegations and called for an independent investigation.
Although a ceasefire agreement was reached shortly after, India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting invoked the Information Technology Rules to mandate the removal of Pakistani content on grounds of national security, sovereignty, and public order.
The directive applies to OTT platforms, music streaming apps, web series, films, songs, podcasts, and all other digital content linked to Pakistan. The purge hasn’t been limited to music alone — Pakistani actors are also being digitally removed from album covers and promotional visuals.
For example:
- The Spotify and YouTube Music cover of Sanam Teri Kasam no longer displays Mawra Hocane; only Harshvardhan Rane is featured.
- Similarly, Mahira Khan has been removed from all visual promotions of Raees, leaving Shah Rukh Khan as the sole lead.
- Even older releases haven’t been spared — Fawad Khan has been digitally erased from Buddhu Sa Mann (Kapoor & Sons), and the track is now inaccessible in India. Sony Music India, which had uploaded it, has also changed the poster art.
Producer Deepak Mukut, commenting on the Sanam Teri Kasam changes, told Hindustan Times, “They didn’t ask me; it’s their decision. Whatever our government says, everyone has to follow.”
The move has once again sparked debate around the deep-rooted cultural connections between the two countries. Despite political rifts, Pakistani musicians — from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Abida Parveen to Atif Aslam, Ali Sethi, and Maanu — have maintained immense popularity in India for decades.
Ironically, while original Pakistani songs are being removed, Bollywood continues to release remakes of Pakistani hits, including:
- Aap Jaisa Koi by Nazia Hassan
- Hawa Hawa by Hasan Jahangir
- Nach Punjaban by Abrar ul Haq
This contrast has raised concerns of cultural erasure and selective appropriation, as India retains profit from remixed versions while purging the original Pakistani content in the name of national security.
