Amaal Mallik on music industry malpractices: 'Waking up 10 years too late'
Synopsis
Amaal Mallik's pointed X post — 'Where were you in 2015 when I was fighting the system alone?' — cuts to the heart of a long-simmering crisis in Bollywood music. With Tanishk Bagchi alleging ₹8 lakh in unpaid royalties for a blockbuster track and YRF pushing back with a three-composer credit split, the industry's opacity on royalties is finally under a harsh spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Amaal Mallik posted on X that the music industry is 'waking up 10 years too late,' referencing his own lone battle against the system in 2015 .
Composer Tanishk Bagchi alleged on Saturday that he is yet to receive ₹8 lakh in royalties for the Saiyaara title track from YRF .
YRF responded that the track was co-composed by Tanishk Bagchi , Faheem Abdullah , and Arslan Nizami , with royalties split equally among all three.
Mallik did not name Bagchi or YRF directly in his post but the timing linked it clearly to the ongoing controversy.
The episode has renewed calls for transparent royalty structures and standardised contracts in the Hindi film music industry.
Music composer Amaal Mallik has spoken out about fighting the Hindi film music industry's alleged malpractices alone over a decade ago, saying the current wave of outrage over composer dues arrives far too late. His remarks surfaced amid a growing controversy over alleged non-payment of royalties to composer Tanishk Bagchi for the blockbuster track from the film Saiyaara.
What Amaal Mallik Said
On Sunday, Mallik posted on X (formerly Twitter) a picture of himself with a deadpan expression, accompanied by a pointed note. Without naming Tanishk Bagchi or music label YRF directly, he wrote: 'People in the music industry waking up 10 years too late. Where were you in 2015 when I was fighting the system alone.'
Mallik has, over the years, been vocal about what he describes as systemic unfairness in the Indian music industry — from label dominance over creative decisions to opaque royalty structures and limited opportunities for independent artists. His latest post signals that the industry's current reckoning is, in his view, long overdue.
The Tanishk Bagchi Controversy
The immediate backdrop is a public allegation by Tanishk Bagchi, who composed the title track of the hit film Saiyaara. On Saturday, Bagchi took to Instagram to allege he had not been adequately paid for the song. In a lengthy caption accompanying the film's poster, he wrote: 'This was my first film with @yrfentertainment @yrfmusic I agreed to everything because I believed in the music. I gave this song everything I had. From the production to the composition, working with the lyricist and singers, recording, vocal tuning, sound, arrangements every single detail mattered to me. I treated it like it was my own. Whatever YRF had paid me, all of that nominal amount was used to do the live and mixes ..what was left was zero, yes. That's what I earned from a song so big.'
Bagchi further stated that, according to documentation related to the song's creation, he is yet to receive ₹8 lakh in royalties.
YRF's Official Response
Yash Raj Films (YRF) issued a formal statement disputing Bagchi's account. The production house clarified that the Saiyaara title track was not solely composed by Bagchi, but was a collaboration among three composers — Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami. YRF stated that royalties for the track have been divided equally among all three and will continue to be shared accordingly.
A Broader Pattern in Bollywood Music
The episode has reignited debate about transparency and fairness in the Hindi film music ecosystem. Composers, singers, and lyricists have long raised concerns about credit attribution, royalty disbursement timelines, and the outsized leverage that major labels and studios hold over creative professionals. Mallik's intervention underscores that these grievances are not new — they have simply found a louder platform now. This comes amid growing calls within the industry for standardised contracts and independent royalty audits.
Whether the current controversy translates into structural reform or fades as a social media moment remains to be seen.
Point of View
Only for the same grievances to explode now around a bigger name and a bigger song, reveals how little has structurally changed. YRF's three-composer rebuttal may be factually accurate, but it sidesteps the core question: were all contributors informed upfront of the credit and royalty split? The Bollywood music machine has long operated on informal agreements and power asymmetries. Without mandatory written contracts, independent royalty audits, and a functioning grievance mechanism, this controversy will repeat — just with different names.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amaal Mallik say about the music industry?
Amaal Mallik posted on X that the music industry is 'waking up 10 years too late' on malpractices, recalling that he fought the system alone in 2015 without any support. He did not name Tanishk Bagchi or YRF directly but the post was widely seen as a response to the ongoing royalty controversy.
What is the Tanishk Bagchi and YRF royalty dispute about?
Composer Tanishk Bagchi alleged on Saturday that he has not been adequately paid for the title track of the film Saiyaara and is owed ₹8 lakh in royalties. YRF responded that the track was a three-way collaboration with Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami, and that royalties have been split equally among all three composers.
How did YRF respond to Tanishk Bagchi's allegations?
YRF issued an official statement clarifying that the Saiyaara title track was composed jointly by Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami. The label stated that royalties have been shared equally with all three and will continue to be distributed accordingly.
Why does this controversy matter for the music industry?
The dispute highlights longstanding concerns about opacity in royalty structures, credit attribution, and the power imbalance between major labels and independent composers in Bollywood. Amaal Mallik's remarks suggest these issues have persisted for over a decade without meaningful reform.
Who is Amaal Mallik?
Amaal Mallik is a Mumbai-based Hindi film music composer known for his work in Bollywood. He has previously spoken out against what he describes as unfair practices in the Indian music industry, including lack of transparency in royalties and label dominance over creative decisions.
