Written by Tanisha Cardozo
July 29, 2025 — Mumbai: While Saiyaara, Mohit Suri’s romantic drama, continues to set the box office on fire and its title track dominates Spotify’s Top Global Chart at No. 4, its success hasn’t come without controversy.
The film’s composer Tanishk Bagchi is facing criticism after several social media users pointed out that the track bears a strong resemblance to One Direction’s 2014 ballad Night Changes and Jubin Nautiyal’s Humnava Mere. Now, Bagchi is responding.
Tanishk’s Response: “Chords Are Limited — Soul Is Not”
In an interview with India Today, Bagchi was candid yet firm in his response:
“Whatever I do, people will have something to say. They keep looking for ways to pull me down. But ultimately, the song will go where it’s destined to go, and Saiyaara is proof of that.”
Acknowledging that the chords are similar, Bagchi explained that they’re rooted in the A minor scale, which typically has only 3–4 common chords.
“But every melody has a different soul,” he continued. “Even if you could replicate the chords, making a song hit on emotion is difficult. We worked on the emotion — and that’s why it connected.”
He added with clarity:
“We didn’t steal anything. Idhar se utha ke udhar nahi kiya. (We didn’t lift it from there and place it here.)”
Saiyaara: A Surprise Blockbuster
The film marks the Bollywood debut of Ahaan Panday, who stars opposite newcomer Aneet Padda. Directed by Mohit Suri, known for Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain, Saiyaara has been praised for its raw emotional tone, soulful music, and passionate performances.
In just 11 days, the film has grossed over ₹256 crore domestically, and the soundtrack — especially the title track — continues to dominate international charts, helping the film reach global audiences.
A Composer Under Scrutiny, Again
Tanishk Bagchi has long been a polarising figure in Bollywood music. Initially earning praise as part of the Tanishk-Vayu duo with songs like Banno, he gained mass recognition with emotional hits such as Bolna and commercial fame with high-energy remixes like Aankh Marey, Dilbar, and Tamma Tamma Again.
However, he has also frequently been accused of being Bollywood’s “remix king,” a title that’s earned him both fanfare and criticism. This latest controversy only adds to that narrative — though Bagchi insists Saiyaara was built on originality and emotion.
The Bigger Picture: Musical Inspiration vs. Imitation
With so many global musical influences overlapping across genres, conversations around originality and inspiration have become common. Whether Saiyaara toes the line or crosses it is up for debate — but with its massive success and audience connection, the music seems to have struck the right chord.
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