Tanishk Bagchi calls Rs 8 lakh 'Saiyaara' royalty 'peanuts'; YRF says dues paid as per contract

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 the financial returns did not reflect the effort he invested in creating one of the film's biggest musical successes.Composer says the song demanded his complete dedicationReflecting on the making of the title track, Tanishk said he devoted 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, 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."According to the composer, the project required both significant time and personal commitment. He suggested that the financial outcome did not match the level of work that went into the chart-topping track. Tanishk also claimed that the royalty statement available to him showed earnings of Rs 8 lakh from the song. He said he found the amount disappointing, considering the title track's popularity across streaming services and digital platforms.He added, "What hurts the most is that, as per the royalty statement, I’m still yet to receive just Rs 8 lakh 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, Rs 8 lakh feels like peanuts. I genuinely believed a song that reached this scale would have earned much more. I’m not writing this for sympathy. I’m writing 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 look at this industry. From now on, I’ll only work with producers and directors who value creativity, honesty and the people who build their music."YRF says royalties were shared equally among three composersSoon after Tanishk's remarks, 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 Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami. According to YRF, the royalty-sharing arrangement had been agreed upon by all three composers before the song's release.The production house also maintained that every payment had been made according to the contractual terms. The statement read, "‘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 and time."While the composer has questioned whether the royalty he received reflects the song's commercial success, YRF has reiterated that every collaborator was compensated according to the signed agreement and that royalty payments will continue to be distributed equally among the three composers.Meanwhile, it was just two days back when the team of 'Saiyaara' celebrated one year since its release. Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!