Music composer Tanishk Bagchi has opened up about what he described as a disappointing royalty payment for the title track of ‘Saiyaara’. The composer took to social media to share his experience, saying that the financial return does not reflect the effort he invested in creating one of the biggest successes in film music.
The composer said that the song demanded his full dedication
Reflecting on the making of the title track, Tanishk said that he devoted himself at every stage of the creative process. He explained that he was heavily involved in the production, composition, recording and overall sound of the song.He wrote, “I gave this song everything I had. From production to composition, working with the lyricist and singers, recording, vocal tuning, sound, arrangements every single detail was important to me. I treat it like my own. Whatever YRF paid me, all the nominal amount was used for live production and mixing… the rest was zero, yes. That’s what I get from a great song.”According to the composer, the project required significant time and personal commitment. He suggested that the financial consequences did not match the level of work that was on the chart-topping track. Tanishk also claimed that the royalty statement available to him showed an income of Rs 8 lakh from the song. He said he found the amount disappointing, considering the title track’s popularity on streaming services and digital platforms.He added, “The most painful thing is that, according to the royalty statement, I have not received Rs 8 lakh in royalties for a song that continues to generate millions of streams and views on platforms. I really believe that a song that reaches this scale earns more. I am not writing this for sympathy. I wrote this because I know what I put into this song, and I know the sacrifices I made to bring it to life. This experience changed my view of this industry. From now on, I will only work with producers and directors who value creativity, honesty and the people who build their music.”
YRF said the royalties were shared equally among the three composers
Soon after Tanishk’s comments, Yash Raj Films issued an official statement presenting its side of the matter. The studio clarified that the Saiyaara title track was composed jointly by: Tanishk BagchiFaheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami. According to YRF, the royalty-sharing arrangement was agreed upon by all the three composers before the release of the song.The production house also maintained that every payment was made as per the contractual terms. The statement read, “The title of ‘Saiyaara’ is a beautiful collaboration between three composers (Tanishk Bagchi along with Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami). We are very grateful for their brilliance in creating a timeless song that has touched millions of hearts.” YRF paid each collaborator their due, according to the contract, all within the agreed terms and time.”While the composer questioned whether the royalty he received reflected the commercial success of the song, YRF reiterated that each collaborator was paid according to the signed agreement and that the royalty payments would continue to be distributed equally among the three composers.Meanwhile, it was just two days ago when the team of ‘Saiyaara’ celebrated one year since its release.
