Peaky Blinders Composer Otnicka Responds to Claims of 'Leo' Song 'Ordinary Person' Copying His Track
Peaky Blinders Composer Otnicka said he was unaware of his song being used in the film 'Leo'.
In the midst of 'Leo,' the latest blockbuster starring Vijay and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, dominating global box offices, an unexpected controversy has cast a shadow over the film's soaring success. Music composer Anirudh Ravichander and the 'Leo' production team found themselves at the center of allegations of plagiarism concerning one of the film's songs.
What makes this incident even more intriguing is the involvement of Otnicka, the composer behind the acclaimed 'Peaky Blinders' series, and the growing debate regarding the similarities between their respective compositions.
'Leo' Ascends While Controversy Brews
Since its release on October 19, 'Leo' has stormed ahead in the global box office race, surpassing even Martin Scorsese's 'Killers Of The Flower Moon,' featuring Hollywood heavyweight Leonardo DiCaprio. But the movie's ascent to the top of the charts is only one aspect of the story that has social media buzzing. Recently, 'Leo' introduced the song 'Ordinary Person' on YouTube, which soon ignited a storm of accusations of plagiarism.
Several netizens were quick to notice the apparent resemblance between 'Ordinary Person' from 'Leo' and a composition by Otnicka, 'I'm Not Outsider,' featured in the popular British drama series 'Peaky Blinders.' The striking similarities did not go unnoticed, and these claims of inspiration or even outright copying ignited a fierce online debate.
Otnicka's Response to the Controversy
Acknowledging the burgeoning controversy, Otnicka, the composer of 'Peaky Blinders,' took to Instagram to address the situation. He expressed his gratitude to followers for the hundreds of messages received about the film 'Leo.' However, he also emphasized the complexity of the situation, stating, "I can see everything, but it's physically impossible to answer everyone...The situation is very unclear." Otnicka did not jump to conclusions, asserting that he was not accusing anyone at this stage.
Furthermore, Otnicka confirmed that his team is actively investigating the matter, and he promised to provide a detailed assessment of the situation at a later time. He also noted that he was unaware of his song being used in the film 'Leo' and that "The label does not own the copyright and cannot grant a license without the artist's knowledge. No one contacted me and the team."
'Leo' Thrives at the Box Office
Despite the swirling controversy, 'Leo' continues to enjoy impressive success at the box office. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, this film is part of 'The Lokesh Cinematic Universe,' which also includes hits like 'Kaithi' and 'Vikram.' The controversy surrounding the film's music has not significantly dampened the enthusiasm of moviegoers, as the global audience remains captivated by the film's intriguing narrative and compelling performances.