BLACKPINK star Jennie recently found herself at the centre of a plagiarism controversy following the release of her latest track, ‘Like Jennie’.
The singer’s track began trending on social media in India after some fans claimed that the song was similar to the Rani Intro theme, composed by Indian music director Pritam for the 2023 Bollywood romantic film ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani‘, starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh.
Many claimed that elements of the song were very similar and a portion of the track sounded almost alike.
As the debate gained traction online, Pritam himself addressed the allegations in an Instagram post on March 7. The renowned composer dismissed claims of plagiarism, asserting that minor similarities in music are inevitable.
“Rani and Jennie are names that rhyme, so a similar flow in one phrase doesn’t make it a copy,” Pritam explained. “In music, minor similarities are bound to happen—whether through rhymes, phrasing, or even within the same genre.”
He further elaborated on the nature of musical creativity, emphasizing that “music is about creativity, unique artistic perspective, influence, and sometimes, pure coincidence—especially when artists exist on the same creative wavelength.” Urging fans to avoid unnecessary criticism, he added, “Rather than tearing artists down, celebrating their work makes far more sense.”
Pritam also pointed out that in today’s digital age, where artists across the world share the same platforms, direct plagiarism is unlikely.
His response has been widely praised by fans globally, effectively shutting down speculations surrounding Jennie’s song and reinforcing the collaborative and evolving nature of the music industry.