Israel's National Anthem Back In Focus, Internet Can't Unhear Its Likeness To This Bollywood Song
Many social media users questioned whether one borrowed from the other- or whether the resemblance is purely coincidental.
Social media users believe that there is a striking similarity between Israel's national anthem Hatikvah and the 1996 Bollywood patriotic song Mera Mulk Mera Desh, composed by Anu Malik for the film Diljale- and they are not wrong. Sharing side-by-side audio clips of the two tracks, many users on X (formerly Twitter) questioned whether one borrowed from the other- or whether the resemblance is purely coincidental.
The online debate quickly spiraled into memes as users reacted with a mix of sarcasm and frustration. 'This too? Is anything original?" one wrote while another quipped, 'Anu Malik's Spotify is just international radio with a filter." Several posts resurfaced old clips comparing Anu Malik's work to other global hits, turning the anthem controversy into a moment of deja vu.
While accusations of plagiarism have been aimed at Anu Malik in the past, this particular case is more complicated than it appears. The melody of Hatikvah was adapted in 1887 by Samuel Cohen, who drew inspiration from La Mantovana, a 16th-century Italian folk tune composed by Giuseppe Cenci. The anthem was officially adopted by Israel in 1948.
Anu Malik's composition, which features vocals by Kumar Sanu, appears to echo the same musical structure. This isn't the first time the similarity has drawn attention. In 2023, Naor Gilon, former Israel's ambassador to India, shared an audio clip of Mera Mulk Mera Desh on social media, alongside the flags of both nations. In his post, Naor Gilon noted the uncanny melodic resemblance to Hatikvah, writing that the Indian song had deeply moved him and that its lyrics resonated 'like a beacon of hope and unity."
Anu Malik has previously faced criticism for several songs that closely mirrored international hits- from Wham!'s Last Christmas and Linear's Sending All My Love to Toto Cutugno's L'Italiano.
In the case of Mera Mulk Mera Desh, however, the accusation of plagiarism seems less clear-cut. Both songs appear to draw from the same source- La Mantovana- a melody that has travelled across continents, adapted into classical music, folk traditions and national anthems.
First Published:
June 18, 2025, 21:04 IST
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