Pakistani songs are being removed from Indian streaming services, Spotify being one of the first to follow a warning given by the government which was released earlier this month. In the hours after the order, songs including “Maand,” “Jhol,” and “Faasle” vanished from Spotify India, according to NDTV.
Following an official instruction from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on May 8th, which called for the removal of all Pakistani content from digital media, the action went into effect on Wednesday night.
All OTT platforms, digital streaming services, and online intermediaries were instructed to remove web series, movies, songs, podcasts, and other media with Pakistani origins. The advisory was given in accordance with India’s Information Technology Rules. The broad content embargo was justified by the ministry on the grounds of public order, sovereignty, and national security.
The raid coincides with tensions between India and Pakistan after New Delhi accused Pakistan of being responsible for a deadly attack in Pahalgam. Islamabad has refused the claim and demands a neutral investigation. The restriction is still in effect even though both parties have now agreed to a truce.
The significance of the directive extends beyond audio content. On Indian sites, Pakistani actors are currently being digitally removed from advertising content. Only her Indian co-star Harshvardhan Rane remains on the cover image of Sanam Teri Kasam on Spotify and YouTube Music after actress Mawra Hocane was taken out.
The song “Buddhu Sa Mann” by Kapoor & Sons, which featured Fawad Khan, is no longer available to Indian consumers, and Mahira Khan has vanished from Raees’ posters.
One of the most extensive cultural crackdowns in the area’s recent history is this one. The neighbors’ shared musical legacy, which includes genres like ghazals, qawwalis, and modern pop, had up until now mostly stayed intact, despite the fact that political tensions have frequently strained artistic links between the neighbors.
Throughout India’s history, Pakistani musicians like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Nazia Hassan, and Atif Aslam have been extremely famous, and their music has played a significant role in the nation’s musical environment.
Critics ironically point out that Bollywood keeps producing remakes of many of these same songs, despite original songs of Pakistan being removed from platforms. This raises concerns about cultural ownership and censorship in the age of digital media.
