“They Aren’t Giving Us Biryani”: Adnan Sami Slams Music Industry’s Over-Reliance on Remixes
Renowned singer and composer Adnan Sami has launched a scathing critique of the music industry’s current obsession with recycling old hits. Challenging the long-standing industry narrative that remixes are merely a response to audience demand, Sami insists that listeners are being starved of originality by risk-averse corporate labels.
The Shift from Originality to Recycled Content
In a candid conversation on the Game Changers podcast, Sami expressed his frustration with the skewed ratio of original compositions to rehashed tracks. He argued that the creative landscape has shifted from a healthy 80:20 balance of original to remixed content to a stagnant 20:80 model.
“The corporates are scared to experiment,” Sami noted, drawing parallels between the music industry’s crisis and the trend of endless sequels, remakes, and prequels currently dominating modern cinema. He argued that while franchise-building is common in Hollywood, it has become a crutch in the Indian entertainment sector.
Drawing Parallels with Global Cinema
Sami used high-profile cinematic examples to illustrate his point. He noted that while sequels to legendary films like The Godfather or Star Wars once represented landmark narrative expansions, they are now becoming the standard rather than the exception. He contrasted this with visionary directors like Christopher Nolan, whose work—while sometimes building on existing foundations—continues to push the envelope creatively. In the Indian music scene, however, Sami believes that nostalgia is being exploited rather than honored, with iconic choruses and hooks from the 70s, 80s, and 90s being lazily repurposed without evolving the art form.
The “Dry Rice” Analogy
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the interview came when Sami dismantled the argument that the public prefers remixes.
“If you ask someone, ‘Why are you feeding him sookhe chawal (dry rice)?’ they’d reply, ‘That’s what he wants. See how much he’s savouring it,'” Sami explained. “But he’s savouring it only because you didn’t serve him khichdi or biryani.”
Sami’s warning is clear: by failing to cultivate new, original music, the industry is depriving a new generation of listeners of their own cultural identity. He was quick to absolve composers of the blame, emphasizing that most music directors do not enter the industry dreaming of churning out remixes. “Don’t blame them,” he stated. “Blame those who make them do it by force.”
A Call for Change
Sami’s critique echoes a growing sentiment among music purists and fans who feel that the soul of Indian music is being diluted by corporate mandates. As a veteran artist, his call for original storytelling serves as a reminder that artistic risk is essential for growth.
On the professional front, Sami continues to showcase his versatility as an artist. Most recently, he lent his vocals to the track “Bheegi Saree” for the 2025 film featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, proving he remains a relevant and active voice in the industry he is currently fighting to transform.
