A year after the release of Saiyaara, starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, on July 18, music composer Tanishk Bagchi has courted controversy by claiming that he is yet to receive INR 8 lakh from the royalties of the film’s theme song.
In an Instagram post, he also claimed that the fee he received for composing the song was completely spent on its production.
Following his remarks, Yash Raj Films (YRF) issued a clarification, stating that all contractual payments have been made and royalties have been distributed as agreed. Shortly thereafter, Bagchi’s Instagram post appears to have been deleted, as it was no longer visible on his profile.In response to the allegations, a YRF spokesperson confirmed that the title song Saiyaara was a collaborative effort between three composers – Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arsalan Nizami – and that the royalty payments were handled as per the agreement signed by all parties.“The theme song for Saiyaara was a beautiful collaboration between three composers (Tanishk Bagchi along with Faheem Abdullah and Arsalan Nizami). We are extremely grateful for their brilliance in creating a timeless song that has touched a million hearts. The royalties for the theme song have been shared and YRF will continue to share it equally between the three composers as contractually agreed by everyone, including Tanishk.”
YRF paid each collaborator their dues, according to the contract, all within mutually agreed upon terms and time, the spokesperson said.Hours after YRF issued its statement, Bagchi’s Instagram post was no longer available on his account. The composer has not commented publicly on why it was removed.Earlier on July 18, Bagchi shared an emotional note explaining why he was disappointed with the song’s financial outcome despite its immense popularity.
Claiming that ₹8 lakh royalties are still pending, he reflected on the efforts he invested in creating the track.“This was my first film with @yrfentertainment @yrfmusic… I said yes to everything because I believe in music. I gave this song everything I had. From production to composition, working with the lyricist and singers, recording, sound control, sound, and arrangements, every detail mattered to me.”
I treated her like she was my own,” he wrote.He further claimed that the amount he received from the production company was completely spent on making the song. He added, “Whatever YRF paid me, all of that nominal amount was used to do live streaming and mixing…and what was left was zero, yeah. That’s what I earned from a very big song.”Bagchi also questioned the royalty amount reflected in his statement. “What hurts me the most is that, as per the royalty statement, I still have only received INR 8 lakh as royalty for the song which went on to generate millions of streams and views across platforms.
Honestly, for the amount of work, time and passion I put into this song, INR 8 lakh seems like peanuts. “I really thought a song that got that big would have earned a lot more.”The composer explained that his post was not intended to elicit sympathy, and said he simply wanted to highlight the effort that goes into creating successful music and why he was frustrated with the result. “From now on, I will only work with producers and directors who value creativity, honesty, and the people who make their music,” he wrote.He concluded his note by reflecting on loyalty and expressing gratitude to a few people associated with the film. “One thing I also learned is that sometimes you give people your all, and when success comes, they forget who stood by them. Anyway, I leave the rest to God. Time tells every story, and karma settles every score. The only person I respect in this entire film is Mohit Suri, because of him I did this film…and
Complete guidance
“, he concluded.