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 returns did not reflect the effort he put into creating one of the film’s biggest musical hits.
The composer says the song demanded his complete dedication
Reflecting on the creation of the title track, Tanishk said that he dedicated himself to every stage of the creative process. He explained that he was deeply involved in the production, composition, recording and overall sound of the song.He wrote: “I gave this song everything I had. From the production to the composition, working with the lyricist and singers, the recording, the vocal tuning, the sound, the arrangements, every detail mattered to me. I treated him like he was mine. Whatever YRF had paid me, that entire nominal amount was used to do the live and mixes… what was left was zero, yes. That’s what I earned with such a great song.”According to the composer, the project required significant time and personal commitment. He suggested that the financial result was not commensurate with the level of work that went into the top-tier track. Tanishk also claimed that the royalty statement available showed earnings of Rs 8 lakh from the song. He said he found the amount disappointing, given the title track’s popularity on streaming services and digital platforms.He added, “What hurts the most is that according to the copyright statement, I am still without a mere Rs 8 lakh in royalties for a song that has got millions of plays and views across platforms. Honestly, for the amount of work, time and passion I have put into this song, Rs 8 lakh feels like peanuts. I really believed that a song that reached this scale would have won a lot more. I’m not writing this for sympathy. I write this because I know what I put into this song and I know the sacrifices I made to bring it to life. This experience has changed the way I see 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 says the royalties were split equally between 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 title track of Saiyaara was jointly composed by Tanishk BagchiFaheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami. According to YRF, the three composers had agreed on the rights-sharing deal before the song was released.The production house also maintained that all payments had been made as per the contractual terms. The statement said, “The title song of ‘Saiyaara’ was a beautiful collaboration between three composers (Tanishk Bagchi along with Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami). We are deeply grateful for their brilliance in creating a timeless song that has touched millions of hearts. The copyright of the title song has been and will continue to be shared equally among all the three composers including the YRF contract. Tanixk. YRF has paid each contributor their debt, according to the contract, all within the mutually agreed terms and deadlines.”While the composer has questioned whether the royalty he received reflects the commercial success of the song, YRF has reiterated that all contributors were compensated as per the signed agreement and that royalty payments will continue to be split equally between the three composers.Meanwhile, it was just two days ago when the team of ‘Saiyaara’ celebrated a year since its release.