Delhi HC restrains Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting Saregama copyrighted works

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Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja. File.

Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja. File. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Delhi High Court has passed an interim bid successful favour of Saregama India Limited, restraining noted euphony composer Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting copyrighted works claimed by the statement successful 134 films dating backmost to 1976.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, portion proceeding a commercialized suit filed by Saregama connected February 13, noted that prima facie a “strong case” was made retired successful favour of the euphony company.

According to the company, the composer issued a ineligible announcement connected January 13, 2026, claiming rights implicit philharmonic works composed and arranged by him for the films successful question.

Saregama told the tribunal that betwixt 1976 and 2001, it entered into duty agreements with producers of respective cinematograph films. By virtuousness of these agreements, it claimed ownership of the copyrights connected the dependable recordings arsenic good arsenic the underlying philharmonic and literate works of songs forming portion of those films.

The institution alleged that successful the archetypal week of February 2026, it came crossed the infringing usage of the copyrighted works by Mr. Ilaiyaraaja by uploading the aforesaid connected assorted platforms specified arsenic Amazon music, iTunes, and Jio Saavan. It besides alleged that Mr. Ilaiyaraaja had made ownership claims implicit the content.

The tribunal took enactment of earlier Supreme Court’s ruling, which held that wherever a composer creates euphony for a movie for consideration, the shaper becomes the archetypal proprietor of the copyright unless determination is simply a declaration to the contrary.

After perusing the assorted documents placed connected record, the tribunal said, “the irreparable nonaccomplishment and wounded which whitethorn beryllium caused to the plaintiff connected relationship of the purported infringement by the suspect whitethorn not beryllium adequately compensated successful monetary presumption successful lawsuit ex-parte ad-interim injunction is not granted”.

The tribunal restrained Mr. Ilaiyaraaja, his agents, and representatives from exploiting oregon issuing licences for the company’s copyrighted works i.e. the dependable recordings and literate and philharmonic works forming a portion of the 134 films mentioned by the institution successful its plea.

The bid covers an extended database of 134 films, including well-known titles specified arsenic Annakkili (1976), 16 Vayathiniley (1977), Mullum Malarum (1978), Netrikkann (1981), and Raaja Paarvai (1981).

Published - February 17, 2026 10:46 p.m. IST

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