Priyadarshan has firmly rejected speculation that his film borrowed musical elements from Satyajit Ray’s celebrated classic. The discussion centres on the song ‘Ram Ji Bhala Karein’ in ‘Bhooth Bangla’, which some claim echoes the famous ‘Bhuter Raja Dilo Bor’ from Ray’s ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’. Addressing the chatter, Priyadarshan explained, “I have huge respect for him (Satyajit Ray) because he’s one of the masters from whom I learnt cinema. The word you are saying is ‘bhoot’, ‘yahan bhoot wahan bhoot’. There are hundreds of movies that have used the word ‘deewana’ in Indian cinema. Does that mean that only the first person who used the word ‘deewana’ has the right to use it? So, it’s only a word. The tune has nothing to do with that song.” With a career spanning cult favourites like ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ and ‘Hungama’ among others, Priyadarshan emphasised that he reveres Ray as the ultimate guiding force of Indian cinema.
