Murugan Murugan song: Gopi Sunder denies plagiarism controversy on Pulimurugan theme music

Gopi Sunder has become one of the most sought-after music composers in Malayalam with almost all his compositions topping the chart list. However, he has often been accused of lifting music from other languages due to which some audience call him by the name Copy Sunder.

Now, after the release of Mohanlal's action thriller Pulimurugan, netizens have found that theme music Muruga Muruga has a striking similarity with Malayalam devotional song Mahishasura Mardini that begins with the lyrics ayigiri nandini nanditha. However, Gopi has now come forward with a video slamming the rumours of him copying music from the popular devotional song.

Hello to all. I am happy for getting good response for the song Muruga Muruga from the movie Pulimurugan. At the same time, through Facebook messages, many had requested me to release the song and it was released online. And as usual, many have accused me of copying the music of Pulimurugan from a devotional song," Gopi was heard saying in a video posted on his official Facebook page on October 12.

"I strongly say that I haven't copied it. There are differences, but they might belong to same raga. If I copy a song, I don't have any qualms admitting it. So, I request the audience not to make it as a big issue. Even if I copy in future, I will say that in advance. Who likes to see someone reaching good heights, right?"

"Even though few say that the song is copied, many still like the song. I swear in the name of my mother and father that I haven't lifted the music of Pulimurugan from anywhere [translated from Malayalam]," he added.

However, it has to be noted that Gopi has been mired with copycat rumours several times and has always denied of copying the music alleged by audience.

Also read: Mohanlal's Pulimurugan and Mammootty's Thoppil Joppan end first week on high note

The melody Olanjali Kuruvi from Nivin Pauly-starrer 1983 was alleged to have a close resemblance with music maestro Ilayaraja's composition Mounam Polum Madhuram, which was sung by P Jayachandran for 1984 movie Sagara Sangamam.

Similarly, Gopi's hit song Kanninima Neele from Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mamta Mohandas' Anwar is also said to be similar to a Spanish number. Not just that, netizens had also found similarities between the song Eeran Kaatin from Dulquer Salmaan and Nazriya Nazim film Salala Mobiles and Piya Bole from Bollywood movie Parineetha. Incidentally, both the melodies have been rendered by Shreya Ghoshal.

Even the background score of Dulquer's Kali was said to have been copied from the English movie "The Man from U.N.C.L.E," released in 2015. He later admitted to being "inspired" by the background score of the Hollywood movie, and added that he made slight changes before it was used in the trailer of "Kali."

Here is how Gopi Sunder has reacted to Pulimurugan theme music plagiarism:

Listen to Ayigiri nandini nandhita song HERE

Listen to the theme music of Pulimurugan here: