The Indian music industry, known for its vibrant and diverse sonic palette, often finds itself at the center of heated debates over originality and inspiration. The latest subject of such discourse is Saiyaara, a track from filmmaker Mohit Suri’s upcoming musical project. While the song has been making headlines for its infectious melody and emotional depth, it is also under the scanner for alleged similarities to international and domestic tracks—namely, One Direction’s Night Changes and Jubin Nautiyal’s Humnava Mere.
Tanishk Bagchi, the celebrated composer behind several blockbuster tracks in recent years, co-composed Saiyaara with singers Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami. In a recent interview with India Today, he addressed the controversy head-on, offering clarity and insight into his creative process, the allegations of plagiarism, and the emotional journey of composing Saiyaara.
A Viral Hit Turns Controversial
From the moment of its release, Saiyaara took social media by storm. It didn’t take long for the song to feature in Instagram reels, TikTok videos, and YouTube shorts, making it an instant viral hit. But alongside this wave of appreciation came murmurs of criticism. A section of netizens began drawing comparisons between Saiyaara and older songs—specifically pointing out similarities with One Direction’s globally beloved ballad Night Changes, as well as Jubin Nautiyal’s romantic number Humnava Mere.
The central argument made online is that the melodies and chords used in Saiyaara are almost too familiar, suggesting a lack of originality. As the chatter grew, Tanishk Bagchi found himself once again at the center of a debate he’s all too familiar with.
Tanishk Bagchi Responds to the Backlash
Bagchi, in a candid response during his chat with India Today, defended his work while addressing the criticism in a composed and measured tone. “Whatever I do, people will have something to say because they don’t have anything better to do,” he remarked, showing his disinterest in paying undue attention to social media noise.
He continued, “They [critics] keep on looking for opportunities to put me down. But ultimately, the song will go wherever it’s destined to, and that’s what’s happening with Saiyaara too.”
Bagchi didn’t shy away from acknowledging the structural similarities in musical arrangements. “If you look at the melody, the chords are the same. The A minor scale has just about 3–4 chords but every melody has a different soul,” he explained, shedding light on a fundamental aspect of music theory that even casual listeners might overlook.
“We Did Not Steal Anything”
Perhaps the most emphatic part of Bagchi’s defense came when he outright denied any intentional plagiarism. “All said and done, we didn’t steal anything,” he asserted. “The similarities are fine, it can happen, but it’s not like we did it on purpose. Idhar se utha ke udhar nahi kiya (we didn’t lift and place it deliberately). We worked on the emotion of the song, and that worked. That’s the magic of Saiyaara.”
Bagchi’s point raises an important issue in music production—coincidental similarity. In an age where millions of songs are released annually across genres and languages, similarities in progression or structure can be natural. But what truly defines a song, as Bagchi notes, is its emotional intent and soul.
A Celebration of Original Hindi Music
One of the standout elements of Saiyaara, as highlighted by Bagchi, is its authenticity as an all-Hindi composition. “The best thing is that it’s an original Hindi song, a pure Hindi song. There is no collaboration with foreign artists; everyone associated is home-grown,” he proudly shared.
In an industry that increasingly sees international collaborations and English hooks making their way into Bollywood music, Saiyaara stands as a refreshing testament to homegrown talent and emotion-driven songwriting. For Bagchi, the song’s journey—from being a passion project to trending globally—is a validation of the team’s hard work and sincere creative vision.
“I did have an intuition that this could go viral, but I never expected it to top global charts,” he admitted. The song has already found a spot in Spotify’s Top 50 Viral Tracks globally and has made its way into the top five hit songs on the platform—a massive feat for a non-film, Hindi-language song.
Navigating the Thin Line Between Inspiration and Copy
The controversy surrounding Saiyaara also highlights the increasingly blurred lines between inspiration and imitation in today’s music landscape. It’s not the first time Tanishk Bagchi has been at the center of such a debate. Known for his knack for catchy hooks and cinematic arrangements, Bagchi has, over the years, both delivered original hits and reimagined older Bollywood classics—sometimes drawing both praise and criticism for his approach.
But with Saiyaara, he insists, the team focused on originality and emotional depth rather than borrowing from existing tracks. “Every melody has a different soul,” he repeated, underlining his belief that even songs built on similar chords or scales can carry unique creative value when driven by emotion and purpose.
The Power of Intention in Music
Intent is something Bagchi returns to time and again when discussing his music. For him, the success of Saiyaara isn’t merely about going viral but about creating something that connects with listeners on a deeper, more emotional level.
“There was pure intention behind this song,” he shared. “We weren’t thinking of competition or trying to replicate a hit. We just wanted to make something beautiful, and I think that feeling came through.”
An Industry Divided—But Fans Unbothered
While the music industry and social media remain divided over the controversy, fans of the track seem largely unbothered by the noise. The number of shares, streams, and remixes Saiyaara has inspired stands as a strong indicator that the song has found its audience. Emotional resonance, in most cases, trumps debate—and in the case of Saiyaara, listeners seem more inclined to hit play than analyze its origins.
The digital era has made music more accessible than ever before, but it’s also given rise to an endless cycle of scrutiny, comparison, and criticism. In this environment, every successful song risks being dissected for similarities, no matter how coincidental. For artists like Tanishk Bagchi, the challenge is to continue creating while navigating the intense scrutiny that follows every viral hit.
Final Thoughts
In a world where originality is constantly questioned, Saiyaara emerges as both a musical success and a case study in modern composition ethics. Tanishk Bagchi’s calm yet confident response to the plagiarism claims reveals a deeper truth about the music industry—that creativity often exists in gray areas, where inspiration and originality blend.
And while comparisons to Night Changes and Humnava Mere may continue to swirl, one thing is clear: Saiyaara has resonated with audiences in a powerful way, and its success is a testament to the passion, emotion, and dedication of the team behind it.
As Bagchi said, “Ultimately, the song will go wherever it’s destined to.” And by all indications, Saiyaara is destined to remain on playlists, in hearts, and on charts for some time to come.
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