A romantic Bollywood song was supposed to start summer playlists and cute travel reels online. Instead, it suddenly turned into one of the biggest music debates on the internet this week. Cocktail 2 song Mashooqa is now everywhere across X, Reddit and Instagram, but not only because of Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon’s chemistry.
The song created a huge online discussion after listeners claimed parts of its tune sounded similar to an old Italian track from 1993. Soon comparison videos, fan reactions and criticism flooded social media. But what really surprised many people was composer Pritam’s direct response. Usually, these debates continue online quietly for days. This time, Pritam openly reacted and slammed the allegations.
Pritam Instagram Reaction On Mashooqa Copy Allegations
Music composer Pritam strongly reacted after Mashooqa started facing plagiarism accusations online. Taking to Instagram Stories, he expressed frustration over people constantly comparing his music with international songs.
Pritam wrote that every time one of his songs releases, “self-appointed music detectives” suddenly appear online and start discussing “imaginary similarities.” He sarcastically added that these people are now acting like his “unpaid PR team.”
His response quickly went viral because many fans felt the composer rarely addresses controversies directly. Some users supported him for speaking openly, while others believed criticism around originality should still be discussed seriously.
The controversy also restarted old internet conversations around Bollywood music inspiration and sampling culture.
How Mashooqa Song Controversy Started Online
The debate reportedly started after a Reddit user uploaded comparison clips between Mashooqa and the 1993 Italian song Se So Arrubate A Nonna by Italian duo Bibi and Coco. Soon after that, social media users began posting their own reactions.
Some comments online were harsh.
A few users wrote things like:
- “Bollywood copying again?”
- “The tune sounds almost identical”
- “Still catchy, but sounds inspired”
At the same time, many fans defended Pritam and argued that similar sounds exist across global music all the time. A section of listeners also said the comparison itself felt exaggerated.
Interestingly, several users admitted they had never even heard the original Italian track before the controversy exploded online.
Let's be clear. Urban romantic-comedy is a DEAD genre... and #Cocktail2 will find it VERY DIFFICULT to recover its HUGE budget.
— Review Bollywood (@ReviewBollywoo1) May 21, 2026
The buzz is quite low despite this #Mashooqa controversy. I genuinely hope @MaddockFilms & #DineshVijan give a FAIR compensation to the original… https://t.co/EoNHwAR2Ze
What Makes Mashooqa Song From Cocktail 2 So Addictive
Despite the debate, Mashooqa continues performing strongly online. The song is currently trending across reels and short-form video platforms because of its catchy hook and vacation-style visuals.
The track was composed by Pritam with lyrics written by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Vocals were given by Raghav Chaitanya and Mahmood Ruaa Kayy. Mahmood also reportedly handled the Italian portions used in the song.
The music video features Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon travelling together across beautiful coastal locations while slowly falling in love. Fans are especially loving:
- The European summer aesthetic
- Shahid and Kriti’s chemistry
- Relaxed romantic vibe
- Fashion and styling in the video
- Soft beach visuals and sunset shots
Many viewers online are saying the song feels perfect for travel playlists and monsoon romance reels.
Cocktail 2 Movie Release Date And Cast Details
Cocktail 2 is already one of the most discussed Bollywood films before release. The movie is directed by Homi Adajania and is being called a spiritual sequel to the 2012 hit Cocktail starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty.
This new film stars Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles. The movie is expected to explore complicated modern relationships, emotional confusion, heartbreak and friendship drama.
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Fans are also curious because Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon previously worked together and audiences already liked their onscreen pairing.
Pritam Old Music Controversies Return Again
One major reason why Mashooqa became such a huge discussion online is because Pritam has faced similar allegations earlier too. Since the beginning of his Bollywood career, internet users have repeatedly compared some of his tracks with international music.
Still, many listeners continue supporting him because his songs remain emotionally connected with audiences across generations. From heartbreak albums to dance tracks, Pritam has composed several blockbuster Bollywood songs over the last twenty years.
Some fans online even argued that people target Bollywood composers faster than international artists, where inspiration and sampling are also very common.
At the same time, critics believe originality matters more today because global music is easily accessible online within seconds.
So right now, the internet seems completely divided between criticism and support.
Cocktail 2 Back In Spotlight After Mashooqa Song Controversy
Interestingly, the controversy may have actually increased excitement around Cocktail 2. Many users online who were not following the movie earlier are now searching for Mashooqa and watching the teaser clips.
Apart from the music debate, fans are already discussing the film’s styling, emotional tone, glamorous visuals and relationship drama. Since the original Cocktail became a cult Bollywood film for urban audiences, expectations from this new story are naturally very high.
Reports also suggest the makers are preparing stronger promotions in the coming weeks as release day gets closer.
For now, one thing is clear — whether people loved Mashooqa or questioned it, almost everyone is talking about it.
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Source(Image / Thumbnail): rollingstoneindia.com
