Devi Sri Prasad, the composer of the popular Telugu song Oo Antava from Pushpa: The Rise, has recently accused Turkish singer Atiye of copying his composition in her song Anlayana, which was released seven months ago.
Though Anlayana had gone largely unnoticed in India, DSP’s recent reaction has brought it into the spotlight.
There’s a Telugu saying, “Dongalu padina aaru nelalaki kukkalu moriginattu” — meaning when something wrong happens, the outcry often comes much later.
Staying true to this, DSP has now voiced his disappointment, calling the Turkish version a clear and blatant copy. He stated the similarities are too strong to be dismissed as coincidence or inspiration.
While DSP is considering legal action, it remains to be seen how far international copyright laws will support his claim.
Regardless, he expressed pride that his music has gained global recognition, even if through alleged plagiarism.
Interestingly, his response has sparked curiosity in India, unintentionally boosting the popularity of Anlayana.
Plagiarism is a serious offense, and the direct lifting of the tune is evident in this case. The Turkish version cannot be considered a coincidence or mere inspiration — it is a blatant copy.
However, instances of Western or foreign artists copying Indian tunes are not rare. And this is not the first time Turkey has copied a tune from India.
The first Turkish song copied from India appeared in 1964. The Turkish movie AVARE (1964), which was inspired by the Hindi film Awaara (1951), lifted the tune of the famous song Awaara Hoon.
This ongoing cycle of musical copying across borders underscores the importance of respecting artistic originality and strengthening global copyright protections.
