Saiyaara royalty row: YRF says title track had 3 composers, not just Tanishk Bagchi
Synopsis
Yash Raj Films has publicly contradicted music composer Tanishk Bagchi, insisting the chart-topping 'Saiyaara' title track was a three-way collaboration — and that royalties have been split equally. Bagchi, meanwhile, says he is owed ₹8 lakh and that the entire experience has changed how he views the industry.
Key Takeaways
Tanishk Bagchi publicly alleged on 18 July that he has not been paid ₹8 lakh in royalties owed for the 'Saiyaara' title track.
Yash Raj Films responded the same day, stating the track was a collaboration between Tanishk Bagchi , Faheem Abdullah , and Arslan Nizami .
YRF said royalties have been and will continue to be shared equally among all three composers, as contractually agreed.
Bagchi claimed the upfront fee he received was entirely spent on live sessions and mixes, leaving him with zero net earnings from the song.
He singled out director Mohit Suri and lyricist Irshad Kamil as the only people he respects from the project.
Yash Raj Films (YRF) has pushed back against music composer Tanishk Bagchi's public allegation that he was not paid royalties for the title track of the blockbuster film 'Saiyaara', clarifying on Saturday, 18 July that the song was a three-way collaboration and that all composers have been paid equally as per their contracts.
YRF's Official Position
In a statement issued by a YRF spokesperson, the production house said the 'Saiyaara' title track was composed jointly by Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami — not by Bagchi alone. The spokesperson stated: 'Saiyaara' title track was a beautiful collaboration between three composers (Tanishk Bagchi along with Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami). We are deeply thankful for their brilliance in creating a timeless song that has touched millions of hearts. Royalties for the title track have been shared and will continue to be shared by YRF equally between all three composers as contractually agreed by all, including Tanishk. YRF has paid every collaborator their due, as per contract, all within mutually agreed terms & time.
What Tanishk Bagchi Alleged
Earlier on the same day, Bagchi took to his Instagram account to share a lengthy post alongside the film's poster, expressing that he felt betrayed by the experience. He wrote that he 'agreed to everything' because he believed in the music and invested deeply in every aspect of the production — from composition and arrangements to recording, vocal tuning, and sound.
Bagchi claimed that the fee YRF paid him was entirely absorbed by live sessions and mixes, leaving him with virtually nothing. He further alleged that, according to royalty statements in his possession, he is yet to receive ₹8 lakh in royalties for a song that has accumulated millions of streams and views across platforms.
He wrote: 'What hurts the most is that, as per the royalty statement, I'm still yet to receive just ₹8 lakhs in royalties for a song that has gone on to do millions of streams and views across platforms. Honestly, for the amount of work, time and passion I put into this song, ₹8 lakhs feels like peanuts.'
A Broader Critique of the Industry
Beyond the specific financial dispute, Bagchi used his post to make a broader statement about creative labour in Bollywood. He said the experience had changed how he views the industry and that he would henceforth only work with producers and directors who 'value creativity, honesty and the people who build their music.'
He also singled out director Mohit Suri and lyricist Irshad Kamil as the two people he respects from the entire project, saying it was Suri's involvement that led him to take on the film in the first place.
What This Dispute Signals
The public spat between a prominent composer and one of Bollywood's most powerful studios highlights a recurring tension in the Indian film music ecosystem — the gap between a song's commercial success and the compensation received by its creators. 'Saiyaara' has been widely described as one of the year's biggest film music hits, making the royalty figures cited by Bagchi particularly striking to industry observers.
The dispute also raises questions about how collaborative songwriting credits are assigned and disclosed to the public, given that many listeners assumed the track to be a solo composition by Bagchi. With both sides having now stated their positions publicly, the matter is likely to draw closer scrutiny from music rights bodies and industry associations. How it resolves could set an informal precedent for transparency in Bollywood's royalty practices.
Point of View
Particularly when credits are shared and the public attribution is unclear. Bagchi's claim that ₹8 lakh is all he is owed from a song with millions of streams suggests the base royalty rates in Indian film music remain structurally low. YRF's counter — that three composers split the pool equally — is technically defensible but sidesteps the deeper question of whether the pool itself is fair. Until music rights bodies push for transparent, publicly disclosed royalty statements, these disputes will keep surfacing whenever a song becomes a cultural phenomenon.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Saiyaara royalty dispute about?
Music composer Tanishk Bagchi has publicly alleged that he has not been paid ₹8 lakh in royalties owed to him for the title track of the film 'Saiyaara'. Yash Raj Films responded by stating that the track was a collaboration between three composers and that royalties have been shared equally as per contract.
Who are the three composers of the Saiyaara title track?
According to Yash Raj Films, the 'Saiyaara' title track was composed jointly by Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami. YRF says royalties are being split equally among all three.
How much royalty does Tanishk Bagchi claim he is owed?
Tanishk Bagchi stated in his Instagram post that, according to his royalty statement, he is yet to receive ₹8 lakh for the song. He described this amount as inadequate given the song's scale and the work he put in.
What did Yash Raj Films say in response to Tanishk Bagchi's allegations?
YRF's spokesperson said the studio has paid every collaborator their due as per contract, within mutually agreed terms and timelines. The studio maintained that royalties have been and will continue to be shared equally between all three composers.
Who did Tanishk Bagchi credit positively from the Saiyaara project?
Bagchi specifically named director Mohit Suri and lyricist Irshad Kamil as the only two people he respects from the entire project, adding that it was Suri's involvement that originally convinced him to work on the film.
