Saregama (HMV) that holds the copyright to the song from the 1971-Dev Anand classic, have sold the rights to the Sippy's without informing the veteran

Bollywood's most senior actor-filmmaker Dev Anand is in for a shock. The anthem of rebellious youth, Dum maro dum from his 1971 trend-setting film Hare Rama Hare Krishna, sung by Asha Bhosle, has slipped out of his hands.

Even as the veteran let the world know on Wednesday, that the song was not anyone's but his and his banner Navketan's alone, Saregama (HMV), the music company that holds the rights to the film, had secretly, without informing Dev Saab, sold the rights of the song to Ramesh (Sholay) Sippy and son Rohan.

Music composer Pritam Chakraborty has been quietly working on a re-worked version of Dum maro dum. Pritam is said to retain the mythic opening guitar riff and the mukhda (opening lines) of the original RD Burman composition, revamping the rest of the iconic song for Sippy's film.

Apurva Nagpal, CEO of Saregama (HMV) confirmed that the track has been sold to the Sippys. "We sold the copyright of Dum maro dum to the Sippys, and no, we did not see the need to inform Mr Dev Anand. He might have an emotional connect with the song but he has absolutely no legal rights over it. "

Interestingly, not too long ago when director Ram Gopal Varma remade Sholay, the Sippy parivar had screamed murder against what they claimed was creative vandalism.

The 87 year-old veteran will not only have to cope with his creative material being passed on to another production company without his consent, he will also have to accept the orginal song being reshaped into a modern version.

Rohan Sippy is currently busy making Dum Maro Dum, a film that revolves around the drug syndicate in Goa. Despite repeated attempts to reach him, Sippy remained unavailable for comment.