Singer-composer Anu Malik is being criticised on Twitter for allegedly plagiarising Israel’s national anthem titled ‘Hatikvah’ for his song ‘Mera Mulk Mera Desh’ from Ajay Devgn’s 1996 film Diljale. After Israeli gymnast Artem Dolgopyat won Israel’s first-ever Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics, the country’s flag was raised and their national anthem was played. That’s when Indian twitter users sprung into action, and pointed out the similarities in the music.
“The National anthem tune has some familiarity to the Indian song.. Mera Mulk Mera Desh?? Or is it just me?,” wrote one Twitter user. Another user wrote: “Anu Malik just simply didn’t copy Israel’s national anthem in the 1996 film Diljale song. It needs years of research and analysis to find out which country isn’t going to win medals for years. Visionary man.” Twitter is also flooded with memes that take a dig at Malik. This is not the first time the music composer has been called out for plagiarism. The music composer, who faced sexual harassment allegations amid the MeToo movement, is back as judge on music reality show Indian Idol season 12.
