Bollywood’s K-pop echoes: When tunes cross borders

RELEASED: 13 Sep 2025, 08:31 PM IST
LAST UPDATE: 13 Sep 2025, 08:31 PM IST

Recently, the worldwide increase of K-pop has actually not just recorded countless fans however has actually likewise leaked into unforeseen corners of the home entertainment world– consisting of Bollywood. While Indian movie theater has actually long accepted musical experimentation, numerous Hindi movie tunes have actually come under examination for bearing extraordinary resemblances to popular Korean tracks. From romantic ballads to vivacious dance numbers, these similarities have actually stimulated disputes about creativity, motivation, and cultural loaning.

Noteworthy Circumstances of Supposed K-pop Impact

Pehli Nazar Mein (Race, 2008)

This romantic chart-topper- sung by Atif Aslam and made up by Pritam- is often compared to “Sarang Hae Yo” by Kim Hyung Sup (Delightful Girl Chun-hyang, 2005). Fans discovered a striking melodic resemblance.

Zaalima (Raees,2017)

This psychological preferred, crooned by Arijit Singh and Harshdeep Kaur, has actually been connected to Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips” (2014 )- with listeners indicating noticable melodic echoes.

Baatein Kuch Ankahee (Life in a.City,2007)

Made up by Pritam and carried out by KK, this tune looks like “Ah reum da oon sa ram” from My Lovely Sam Soon (2005 ), specifically in tone and structure.

Laaj Sharam (Veere Di Wedding event,2018)

This vivacious track’s opening feels strangely near GOT7’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” (2017 ), as lots of listeners have actually kept in mind.

Dil Khol Do (2020)

A tune including Benny Dayal that drew attention for its resemblance to BTS’s energetic track “So What!” (2018 ). The similarity was rapidly flagged by the BTS fandom.

Sher Khul Gaye (Fighter,2023)

Observers compared this track’s tune to BTS’s “Dynamite”. Social network mashups highlighted overlapping patterns in both tunes.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa (title track)(Bhool Bhulaiyaa, 2007)

The renowned opening notes are similar to JTL’s “My Lecon” (2001 ), and some likewise recommend links to the Russian track “Ozero Slyoz” by Potap & & Nastya.

Mantoiyat (2018)

Raftaar’s rap number drew sharp contrasts to BTS RM’s “Do You” (2015 )- to the degree that Raftaar released a public apology.

Pritam’s Tape and Market Acknowledgment

Author Pritam has actually regularly been at the center of accusations relating to melodic appropriation, including his participation in numerous of the tunes noted above. Indian website Rolling Stone India points out a minimum of 52 circumstances in between 2004 and 2010 where Pritam’s work was identified as “raised” or “copied” from artists throughout East Asia, the Arab world, and beyond.

Bollywood’s Complex Engagement With Global Music Trends

While tunes travel and cultures intermix- often naturally, in some cases contentiously- the examples above are well-documented and commonly gone over by fans and critics. They show Bollywood’s complex engagement with worldwide music patterns, specifically as K-pop’s impact magnifies throughout the world.