Hollywood Film The Lost Bus Sparks Music Plagiarism Claims Over Salaar Score

A new Hollywood film is facing accusations of musical plagiarism from Indian audiences. The trailer for The Lost Bus, starring Matthew McConaughey, features a background score that fans say is identical to music from the Indian blockbuster Salaar. This similarity was first spotted by sharp-eared viewers on YouTube, sparking a wave of online comments and comparisons.

The disputed music appears around the 1:10 mark in the trailer for the Apple TV+ film. According to Hindustan Times, fans immediately noted its striking resemblance to the original soundtrack composed by Ravi Basrur for the 2023 Prabhas-led action film. The online reaction was swift and widespread.

Social Media Erupts Over Alleged Score Theft

Fans quickly took to social media platforms to voice their observations. One user pointedly commented on the trailer, instructing others to “Listen to the background music from 1:13, it’s the same Salaar BGM.” Another user expressed similar surprise, asking if anyone else had heard the familiar score.

The conversation quickly turned to the broader implications of the similarity. One fan remarked on the unusual nature of the situation, suggesting it was a reversal of typical industry trends. They noted that while Indian composers are often accused of copying Hollywood, this appeared to be a case of a Hollywood production using music similar to an Indian original.

Broader Impact on Cross-Cultural Entertainment

This incident highlights the increasing global crossover of regional cinema’s creative assets. The strong reaction from Indian audiences demonstrates the growing international recognition for its film industry’s technical and artistic contributions. It also raises questions about intellectual property in a borderless digital content era.

For composers and production houses, this situation underscores the need for greater vigilance in music licensing and originality checks. The viral nature of the fan response shows that audiences are now global watchdogs, capable of identifying cross-cultural creative overlaps almost instantly.

The controversy surrounding The Lost Bus and Salaar underscores a new era of globalized film scrutiny. As audiences become more interconnected, the call for originality in film music composition grows louder, proving that great art resonates universally—and its echoes are heard everywhere.

Info at your fingertips

Which films are involved in the music similarity controversy?

The controversy involves the Hollywood film *The Lost Bus* and the Indian Telugu blockbuster *Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire*. The similarity was detected in the trailer’s background score.

Who composed the original music for Salaar?

Indian composer Ravi Basrur created the original soundtrack for *Salaar*. His work on the film’s background score has been widely praised by audiences and critics alike.

What was the fan reaction to the similar music?

Fans flooded social media with comments noting the resemblance. Many expressed surprise, while others saw it as a form of flattery for Indian cinema’s growing influence on global entertainment.

Has there been any official response from the composers?

As of now, there has been no official statement from either Ravi Basrur or the composers of *The Lost Bus* regarding the similarities observed by fans in the trailer’s background music.

When was The Lost Bus released?

*The Lost Bus* began streaming on Apple TV+ from October 3. The film is based on the true story of a school bus driver during the 2018 Camp Fire in California.