Saiyaara Changed Everything For Me, Says Tanishk Bagchi: 'Originals Ka Bhi Baap Hoon'

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Tanishk Bagchi says Saiyaara proved he's not just about remakes. 'Now people know originals ka bhi baap hoon,' he says after global success and peace of mind.
For years, Tanishk Bagchi's name has been synonymous with Bollywood hits—but also with controversy. Known for delivering chartbusters at lightning speed, the composer has often been criticised for relying too heavily on remakes. But with Saiyaara, the soulful title track from Mohit Suri's latest romantic drama, Bagchi feels he has finally broken free of the label—and found long-overdue vindication.
'People used to say that I only recreated songs. But they didn't know that I have composed a number of good original songs as well," he told Hindustan Times. 'Par ab Saiyaara se logo ko pata chal raha hai ki Tanishk Bagchi original mein bhi baap hai (People are finally realising that I'm a master at originals too). I'm really loving it all. I've received a lot of encouragement."
The track has gone on to make history, becoming the first-ever Bollywood song to break into Spotify's Global Top 5, and for Tanishk, its impact is deeply personal. 'I was not in the right mental shape for almost two years now because of all these things. Somewhere the trolls did affect me no matter how hard I tried to stay away from them. My mind was troubled for a long time. But now, thanks to Saiyaara, all that has changed. I'm very happy and mentally at peace."
Bagchi revealed that unlike his usual process, Saiyaara came with a sense of certainty. 'Honestly, with every movie I've done till now, I've never thought about making a hit. But I had a belief with Saiyaara that it will be big. Despite the fact that it had new stars, I always had the hope—yeh fatega (this one will explode)."
What makes the song's success even more rewarding, he says, is that it wasn't built for virality. 'People want instant hits, there's pressure to create 15-second, 30-second viral hits—aura farming chal raha hai (people are farming for quick hype). But they forget that it can't sustain for long."
Instead, Tanishk places Saiyaara alongside modern classics like Tu Hai Toh Main Hoon from Sky Force and Raataan Lambiyan from Shershaah. 'They end up becoming timeless, just like RD Burman songs. If a track has soul and emotion, it'll work, no matter how long it is."
Addressing the misconception that the song's reach is limited to smaller towns, he adds, 'People say it's working only in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, but that's not true. Even in metro cities, people are listening to the song on loop and loving it. This proves that if the song connects, it doesn't matter where it's from."
Tracing the song's origin, Tanishk shared that singer-composers Arsalan Nizami and Faheem Abdullah first created the melody and lyrics under the working title Saiyaan Mera. 'Then I took the song and worked on it further. That version was the first to be pitched to Mohit sir," he revealed, adding that he insisted on retaining the original voices rather than chasing big names.
'Getting big singers is very tough these days. We keep running behind them like beggars and dogs, but no one cares," he said bluntly. 'So I decided I'll go with a new voice—someone whose texture matched my music and complemented the lyrics. And Faheem and Arsalan were perfect for it, because it was their song, and they understood it perfectly."
Working with director Mohit Suri, he says, brought a renewed creative spark. 'I haven't worked with Mohit sir a lot, but I love that he treats musicians on par with the actors. That's a big deal."
For Tanishk Bagchi, Saiyaara is more than a musical triumph—it's a declaration. 'I don't bother about numbers. I just want to make a song that satisfies me, that fits the film. Otherwise, there's no value," he reflected. 'I used to listen to Saiyaara in my car, on the highway. And I thought, if I'm enjoying it this much, the world will too."
First Published:
July 27, 2025, 14:32 IST
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