COPYCATS IN KOLLYWOOD

Or should I say "inspiration" instead of copying? Everywhere, when people borrow just a few elements from others, they call it inspiration, whether it is legally done or not. But why in India, do we call it completely copying, even if there are little similarities?! Is it because the borrowed elements are truly copied, or are the Indian audiences too weak to understand? Here are a list of Tamil songs I believe blatantly contain elements from older songs:

1. Paartha Gnaabagam Illaiyo (Puthiya Paravai) - Inspired by Sway With Me (Dean Martin)
2. Adada Oru Devadhai (Oru Kal Oru Kannadi) - Blatantly similar to Hit You With The Real Thing (Westlife)
3. Thillana Thillana (Muthu) - It borrows the African humming tune from French band Deep Forest's Night Bird.
4. En Manathu Ondru Thaan (Perumaikkuriyaval) - Basic tune inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven's Fur Elise.
5. Vaarayo Vaarayo (Aadhavan) - Inspired by Mongolian Band Camerton's Mongol Goyol
6. Edho Oru Mayakkam (Billa II) - Appears very similar to On the Floor by Jennifer Lopez
7. Vaarayo Thozhi (Jeans) - Blatantly ripped from Nerukku Ner (Ethirigal Jakkirathai), which itself borrows from O Mere Sona Re (Teesri Manzil)
8. Azhagu (Baasha) - A Xerox copy of Dilbar Dil Se Pyaare (Caravan)
9. Yaar Aval Yaaro (Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal) - Doesn't it sound a lot like Bollywood copycat Pritam's Ya Ali (Gangster)
10. Balle Lakka (Mankatha) - Chorus sounds similar to that of Tamil poet Bharathiar's Velli Panimalayin.
11. Adiye Kolludhey (Vaaranam Aayiram) - Doesn't it sound like Love Bomb by AC/DC?
12. Pa Pa Pappa (Deiva Thirumagal) - Blatantly ripped from Whistle-Stop, from the 1973 Disney film Robin Hood.
13. Irukaana Illaiyaana (Nanban) - The tune in the lines "Olli Belly Jelli Belly Malli" may remind many of the song Manjal Veyil from Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.
14. The Rise of Damo (7aum Arivu) - Who does not agree that this Chinese song from a Tamil film sounds like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?
15. Aval Appadi Ondrum Azhagu Illai (Angadi Theru) - Blatantly similar to the track Together, composed by Richard Clayderman.
16. En Jannal Vantha Kaatre (Theeratha Vilaiyaattu Pillai) - Composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, the song sounds similar to the song Hey Saala (Aegan), also composed by Yuvan.
17. Thuli Thuli (Paiyaa) - BGM sounds similar to that of Kannai Kasakkum (Red)
18. Hey Baby (Raja Rani) - BGM goes with the tempo of, and sounds like Don't Worry, Be Happy.
19. En Kaadhal Solla Neram Illai (Paiyaa) - One small part of the song sounds no doubt like My Heart Will Go On (The Titanic theme song)
20. Vaanam Mella (Neethane En Ponvasantham) - Looks similar to Papa Don't Preach (Madonna)
21. Entha Puvillam (Murattu Kaalai) - Opening note xeroxed from Antonio Ruiz-Pipo's Danza no.1 from Cancion y Danza.
22. Un Mela Aasa Dhaan (Aayirathil Oruvan) - This song composed by GV Prakash is very similar to the song Adada Vaa Asathalaam, which was originally composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for AO, but was later used in Sarvam, when Yuvan left AO and was replaced by GV.
23. Mundhinam Paarthene (Vaaranam Aayiram) - When did George Michael give Harris Jayaraj permission to use the background music of Faith?

This is just a small list of the various songs I know are blatantly copied. But this is just the tip of the Iceberg. So keep waiting till I post more copyworks...