The internet thinks they caught Pritam copying again, but the veteran Bollywood composer is not backing down. On Thursday, Pritam took to his Instagram Stories to bluntly dismiss online allegations claiming his new track “Mashooqa” from the upcoming film Cocktail 2 is stolen.
The controversy started when Reddit users overlaid “Mashooqa” with “Se So Arrubate A Nonna,” a 1993 Neapolitan comedy track by Italian duo Bibi & Coco. Social media immediately lit up with comparisons, accusing the composer of reverting to old habits. Pritam responded by calling out the “self-appointed music detectives” who invent “imaginary similarities” to tear down his releases. He ended his post with a sarcastic jab at the detractors: “Boss, at this point you are my unpaid PR team. I just want to say guys NOT NICE.”
Cocktail 2, directed by Homi Adajania, hits theaters on June 19, 2026. The film features a high-profile cast including Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna. With the release date approaching, the musical debate has split the fan base between those crying foul and those pointing to the actual liner notes.
Industry analysts argue this situation falls firmly under legal sampling rather than creative theft. The official tracklist explicitly credits Italian co-composer Mahmood Ruaa Kayy for writing and performing the European portions of the track. Fans defending Pritam note that an official credit completely invalidates the idea of a secret musical heist.
This is hardly Pritam’s first run-in with plagiarism watchdogs. A decade ago, listeners pointed out striking similarities between his 2016 Ae Dil Hai Mushkil track “Bulleya” and Papa Roach’s “Last Resort.” In a 2016 interview with Rajeev Masand, he publicly admitted to making uncredited “mistakes” early in his career regarding borrowed melodies. This time around, he insists the critics are just generating free marketing.