AR Rahman to pay Rs 2 crore in copyright dispute case
AR Rahman and the makers of Ponniyin Selvan 2 have been directed by the Delhi High Court to deposit Rs 2 crore in connection with a copyright lawsuit over the Junior Dagar brothers’ classical rendition of Shiv Stuti.
In 2023, singer Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar moved court against Rahman and the production company Madras Talkies in the matter.
In an interim order passed on April 25, Justice Prathiba M Singh observed that from a listener’s perspective, Rahman’s song Veera Raja Veera was “not just inspired but is, in fact, identical” to Shiva Stuti.
Acknowledging the contribution of the late Junior Dagar Brothers, the court also ordered the film to include a special credit slide for all OTT and online platforms where the film is available. It also granted Rs 2 lakh to their family in recognition of their work.
“In the ultimate analysis, therefore, this court holds that the impugned song is not merely based on or inspired by the suit composition Shiva Stuti but is, in fact, identical to the suit composition with mere change in lyrics. The adding of other elements may have rendered the impugned song more like a modern composition but the basic underlying musical work is identical,” the court said.