Madras High Court Halts ‘Good Bad Ugly’ Songs by Ilaiyaraaja Over Copyright Dispute
Hey there, film buffs! If you’re a fan of Ajith Kumar’s latest blockbuster Good Bad Ugly, you might want to hold off on those rewatches. In a big win for music legend Ilaiyaraaja, the Madras High Court has stepped in with a temporary ban. On Monday, the court ordered producers Mythri Movie Makers to stop showing, screening, distributing, or broadcasting the film with three of Ilaiyaraaja’s iconic songs. This comes amid a heated copyright infringement case that Ilaiyaraaja filed earlier this year.
Justice N Senthilkumar heard the case and quickly granted an ex parte injunction—meaning without the producers’ side being fully presented yet. Ilaiyaraaja claims the film sneaked in his classic tracks without his permission or paying the royalties he deserves. The songs in question? "Otha Rubayum Tharen" from the 1996 movie Nattupura Pattu, "Ilamai Idho Idho" from the 1982 hit Sakalakala Vallavan, and "En Jodi Manja Kuruvi" from the 1986 actioner Vikram. These timeless Ilaiyaraaja compositions have fans grooving for decades, and now they’re at the center of this legal showdown.
In his legal notice, Ilaiyaraaja didn’t hold back. He demanded the immediate removal of these songs from Good Bad Ugly, a whopping Rs 5 crore in compensation, a public apology from the producers, and full details on the film’s earnings. The court wasn’t impressed with Mythri Movie Makers’ response, calling it "bald" and lacking substance. The production house said they had permission to use the songs, but they couldn’t name who gave it or show any proof. That’s why Justice Senthilkumar ruled in favor of the temporary injunction until the next hearing.
Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, Good Bad Ugly stars Ajith Kumar alongside Trisha, Sunil, Prabhu, Arjun Das, and Bollywood veteran Jackie Shroff. The movie hit theaters on April 10 and raked in nearly Rs 100 crore in its opening week, proving Ajith’s massive pull at the box office. But now, this court order throws a wrench in things for the producers. They might need to negotiate with Ilaiyaraaja, get the proper rights, or even edit out the songs to keep the film rolling.
Ilaiyaraaja, known for his fierce protection of his intellectual property in recent years, is making waves in the Indian film industry. This ruling highlights the growing importance of creators’ rights and copyright laws in Tamil cinema and beyond. Fans are buzzing about how this could affect the Good Bad Ugly release and future uses of Ilaiyaraaja’s music.
The case heads back to court soon for a deeper dive into the producers’ claims. Will the injunction become permanent, or will there be a settlement? Stay tuned as this copyright battle unfolds—it’s a reminder that even blockbusters can’t ignore the maestros behind the magic!
