Music composer Pritam has responded sharply to online plagiarism allegations surrounding the newly released song Mashooqa from Cocktail 2, after social media users claimed portions of the track resembled an Italian song from the 1990s.
The controversy erupted soon after the romantic dance number featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon was released online earlier this week.
Social Media Compares Song to Italian Track
Several users on social media alleged that the tune of Mashooqa sounded similar to the 1993 Italian song Se So Arrubate A Nonna, sparking fresh debate around originality in Bollywood music.
The song, composed by Pritam and sung by Mahmood, Raghav Chaitanya and Ruaa Kayy, quickly gained attention online, not only for its music but also for Kriti Sanon’s glamorous appearance in the video.
As comparisons began trending online, users circulated clips juxtaposing both tracks and accused the composer of lifting melodies from foreign music.
Pritam Hits Back at Critics
Reacting to the allegations, Pritam posted a strongly worded message on Instagram, mocking what he described as “self-appointed music detectives.”
“Every single of my song release comes with a set of self-appointed music detectives, who have created a new genre called ‘imaginary similarities’,” the composer wrote.
He further took a sarcastic dig at critics repeatedly accusing him of being “inspired” by other songs.
“Same people, same ‘inspired by’ thesis. Boss, at this point you are my unpaid PR team. I just want to say guys — NOT NICE,” he added.
The remarks quickly went viral, dividing fans online, with some supporting the composer while others continued debating the similarities between the tracks.
‘Cocktail 2’ Music Campaign Gains Momentum
The makers of Cocktail 2 recently held a promotional event where two songs from the film — Mashooqa and Tujhko — were showcased before the media ahead of their digital release.
While Mashooqa officially released online on Tuesday, another song from the film, Tujhko, briefly appeared on social media through a post shared by Rashmika Mandanna before reportedly being deleted later.
The music campaign has generated considerable buzz ahead of the film’s trailer launch later this month.
Trailer to Release on May 29
The makers have announced that the official trailer of Cocktail 2 will be released on May 29, 2026.
The film is directed by Homi Adajania and is positioned as a spiritual successor to the 2012 hit Cocktail.
Big Expectations From Sequel
The original Cocktail, starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty, had emerged as a major box office success and developed a strong fan following over the years.
With Cocktail 2 scheduled to release in theatres on June 19, 2026, industry observers are closely watching whether the sequel can recreate the popularity of the original film despite the early online controversy surrounding its music.
