Music composer Amaal Mallik launched a scathing public attack on fellow composer Tanishk Bagchi on Thursday, 23 July, posting a lengthy note on X (formerly Twitter) that levelled allegations of plagiarism, sexual harassment, and professional misconduct — without naming Bagchi directly. The post, which quickly went viral, marks one of the most pointed public confrontations between two prominent Bollywood music composers in recent memory.

The Song Theft Allegations

Mallik alleged that the title track of the blockbuster film Saiyaara was lifted from a composition by original creators Faheem Abdullah and Arsalan Nizami, and that the unnamed composer — widely understood to be Bagchi — manoeuvred his way into the project through director Mohit Suri. 'If I speak up about how you bagged the film #Saiyaara, and stole the song right under Faheem Abdullah and Arsalan Nizami's nose to make Mohit Suri take you in the film, then you will know,' Mallik wrote. He further alleged that singer Jubin Nautiyal and composer Rocky Khanna — whose song Humnawa Mere he claims was the original — stayed silent out of professional obligation, as both were part of the same film.

Me Too and Harassment Claims

In a particularly serious section of the post, Mallik hinted at sexual misconduct, writing that female singers would 'not file Me Too but Me Three' against the composer he was addressing. He stopped short of naming specific individuals or providing documented evidence, and no formal complaint has been reported as of the time of publication. The allegations remain unverified and have not been corroborated by any of the women he alluded to.

Royalties, Industry Politics, and the Bhushan Kumar Factor

Mallik also waded into the ongoing royalties debate roiling the Hindi film music industry, accusing the unnamed composer of hypocrisy — publicly complaining about royalties while privately refusing to stand united when Mallik had urged composers to collectively push back. He alleged that the composer targeted Yash Raj Films (YRF) over royalties while avoiding a similar fight with T-Series chief Bhushan Kumar, whom he described as having a 'very strong hold in the music industry.' 'You keep saying T-Series owes you crores, then why go after Yash Raj Films, because Bhushan Ji has a very strong hold in the music industry?' Mallik wrote. He added that the composer had previously deleted a post — reportedly at Mohit Suri's intervention — suggesting a pattern of public posturing followed by private retreat.

Personal Jabs and Past Collaboration

Mallik also pushed back against what he described as a double-faced persona in industry circles, claiming the composer speaks negatively about Bhushan Kumar at private gatherings while refusing to do so publicly. He noted that despite their tensions, he had recommended the composer for the film Badrinath Ki Dulhania, framing it as evidence that he was never in professional competition. The post also included crude and gendered language that drew criticism from some quarters, even among those sympathetic to his broader allegations.

What Happens Next

As of publication, Tanishk Bagchi has not issued a public response. The allegations around Saiyaara's composition credit and the Me Too-adjacent claims are likely to draw scrutiny from industry bodies and the broader composer community. The post reignites long-standing questions about credit attribution, plagiarism, and power dynamics in Bollywood's music ecosystem — issues that have periodically surfaced but rarely been addressed with structural accountability.