In Chennai on Thursday, legendary Tamil music composer Il Ilaiyaraaja told the Madras High Court that film producers cannot sell or license his songs to music labels or anyone else without asking him first.
The case was heard by Justice N. Senthilkumar after the composer’s lawyer, A. Saravanan, reminded the court that Ilaiyaraaja’s music is his personal property. “A film is one thing, the music it contains is another,” Saravanan said. “Producers may use the film, but they can’t sell the songs alone without my client’s permission.”
Ilaiyaraaja has never given up his rights to any of his pieces, the lawyer added, and challenged music labels to prove that they own the rights. He also criticized current uses of his work, saying that many versions “distort and mutilate” the original rhythm and beats to fit modern tastes.
The argument arises from a dispute involving the film Good Bad Ugly, starring Ajith Kumar. The production company, Mythri Movie Makers from Telangana, wants to lift an interim court order issued on September 8, 2025 that bars them from using three of Ilaiyaraaja’s classic songs—“Otha Ruba Tharen” from Nattupura Pattu (1996), “Ilamai Idho Idho” from Sakalakala Vallavan (1982), and “En Jodi Manja Kuruvi” from Vikram (1986).
Producer lawyer P.V. Balasubramaniam argued that they had paid between 10 lakh and 40 lakh rupees to music labels for the rights to those tracks and that the injunction was hurting the film’s finances.
Music labels, on their side, said they had secured the rights decades ago from major studios such as AVM Productions and that any complaints should go to the original producers, not the labels or current users.
Saravanan pressed that anyone wanting to use Ilaiyaraaja’s music must get his direct consent. “If people have been misled into paying labels without checking ownership, the composer is not responsible,” he warned.
After hearing all sides, Justice Senthilkumar put the decision on hold and will issue orders later. The case highlights the growing legal battles over film music rights in India’s booming entertainment industry.
Source: ianslive
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