Delhi HC Stays Rahmans Veera Raja Amid Copyright Dispute

Delhi HC Stays Rahmans Veera Raja Amid Copyright Dispute :

Delhi HC slaps stay order on AR Rahman, Madras Talkies in copyright row over Ponniyin Selvan 2's 'Veera Raja Veera' The Delhi High Court has granted an interim stay to a plea against AR Rahman and Madras Talkies regarding alleged copyright violations of the song 'Veera Raja Veera' from the upcoming 2023 Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan 2. The suit, submitted by renowned Indian classical vocalist Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar in 2023, alleges that 'Veera Raja Veera' copies a track-'Shiva-stuti'-composed by his father and uncle, Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and Zahiruddin Dagar, called the Junior Dagar Brothers.

Dagar has taken the matter to the court and Rahman (and the production house) are being restrained from using the track, compensation is being sought, as well as an injunction protecting the moral rights of his family by giving them a due credit. “Veera Raja Veera film is not only inspired by Shiva Stuti, it is identical to it with some changes,” the court said in its interim order. It directed Rahman and Madras Talkies to ensure deposit of Rs 2 crore with the Court Registry towards the claim during the pendency of the suit and slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on them.

The court observed that the Dagar brothers were in the beginning given no credit in the movie. To correct this, it issued the directive that "the credits for the composition of the song in dispute shall be amended to include - Composition based on Shiva Stuti by Late Ustad N Faiyazuddin Dagar and Late Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar" by the OTTs online platforms. Rahman and Madras Talkies refuted the claims, stating that 'Shiva Stuti' is rooted in the Dhrupad style of Hindustani music and therefore is in the public domain.