Music composer Amaal Mallik has sparked a major controversy after launching a blistering public attack on fellow composer Tanishk Bagchi amid the ongoing debate over music royalties. In a series of strongly worded posts on X (formerly Twitter), Amaal accused Bagchi of stealing songs, taking undue credit for musical works, using paid public relations campaigns, and made several other serious allegations related to the music industry.
Without mentioning Tanishk Bagchi by name initially, Amaal referred to him as “Mr Remix & Destroyer of Originals”, accusing him of relying on remakes while benefiting from extensive paid publicity. He alleged that Bagchi frequently portrayed himself as a close friend in private while simultaneously using old photographs and media campaigns to remain in the spotlight.
The composer further claimed that Tanishk Bagchi unfairly received credit for the title track of the film Saiyaara, alleging that the original creators, Faheem Abdullah and Arsalan Nizami, were sidelined during the process. According to Amaal, the duo chose not to speak publicly out of respect, but he suggested that releasing their original version, Saiyaan Mere, would reveal who actually created the song.
Amaal also accused Bagchi of using personal hardships to gain sympathy and secure film projects. In another part of his post, he claimed that he himself had experienced heartbreak but never used his personal life to seek professional opportunities, contrasting his own approach with what he alleged was Bagchi’s conduct.
The controversy escalated further when Amaal made serious allegations involving female singers, claiming that Bagchi’s alleged actions had negatively impacted their lives. He also alleged that Bagchi had previously asked him to step away from certain films and songs for personal reasons. These claims have not been independently verified, and Tanishk Bagchi has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of writing.
Revisiting the ongoing royalty debate, Amaal said he had urged composers years ago to unite against the growing trend of remakes, specifically mentioning projects such as Aashiq Banaya Aapne and Masakali. He criticised Bagchi for now speaking about royalty concerns despite allegedly ignoring earlier appeals to protect composers’ interests.
In his lengthy statement, Amaal also defended Yash Raj Films (YRF), describing the production house as transparent and professional. He questioned why Bagchi had criticised the studio while continuing to work on its upcoming projects, alleging that the composer lacked gratitude despite benefiting from the company’s support.
Perhaps the most explosive accusation came when Amaal alleged that several of Bagchi’s so-called original compositions were themselves copied from Pakistani songs, folk melodies, YouTube covers, or works by other composers. He further claimed that the song Saiyaara resembled Humnawa Mere, suggesting that singer Jubin Nautiyal and composer Rocky Khanna remained silent due to their professional associations.
Concluding his posts, Amaal issued a stern warning to Bagchi, accusing him of damaging the music industry and criticizing reported remake versions of songs such as Sooraj Dooba Hai and Kaun Tujhe. He ended by stating that he would continue speaking out against practices he believes have harmed originality in Bollywood music.
The public exchange follows the recent music royalty controversy involving Saiyaara, where discussions around composers’ rights, ownership, and creative recognition have intensified. As of now, Tanishk Bagchi has not issued any public response to Amaal Mallik’s latest allegations.