Did BLACKPINK singer Jennie steal Rani's theme?

Internet alleges plagiarism in 'Like Jennie'

K-pop sensation Jennie Kim, a prominent member of the globally acclaimed group BLACKPINK, has recently found herself at the centre of a plagiarism controversy. The dispute arose following the release of a teaser for her upcoming solo track, Like Jennie, which some listeners claim bears a striking resemblance to the Rani Theme from the 2023 Bollywood film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, directed by Karan Johar.

The nine-second teaser, unveiled on Tuesday, showcases rhythmic beats accompanied by the repetitive chanting of "Jennie." This composition led several social media users, particularly from India, to draw parallels between Jennie's teaser and the musical theme associated with Alia Bhatt's character, Rani, in the aforementioned Bollywood film. The original Rani Theme, composed by renowned Indian music director Pritam Chakraborty, features a similar beat pattern and vocal arrangement, with the word "Rani" chanted throughout.

The online community has been abuzz with discussions regarding these similarities. An X (formerly Twitter) user highlighted the issue by juxtaposing the two tracks, stating, "BLACKPINK's Jennie copied the song Rani Anthem from the movie Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, which has Indian artist Pritam's credits, in a way that sounds no different."

The debate intensified as fans and critics weighed in on the matter. Some expressed disappointment over the perceived lack of originality, with comments on X like, "The copy paste. She's shameless." Others found irony in the situation, given Pritam's history with plagiarism allegations regarding songs like Ya Ali and Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai, among others. One user remarked, "I cannot believe Jennie is plagiarising Pritam, out of all."

However, not all reactions have been accusatory. Some fans have urged caution, suggesting that the similarity might stem from both tracks sampling a common source. A fan noted, "Pritam literally copied Pehli Nazar Me note for note, without any credits, from a Korean song. He probably did the same for this [Rani's] intro. [He must have] sampled it from another international song without crediting it." The user insisted that "Jennie will give sampling credits."

As of now, neither Jennie nor her management has issued an official statement addressing these allegations. The full version of Like Jennie is scheduled for release on March 7. Fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting the complete track to assess the extent of the similarities and to hear any potential clarifications from Jennie's team.