CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has reserved the orders on the petition filed by Mythri Movie Makers, the producers of Ajith starrer ‘Good Bad Ugly’, seeking to vacate the interim injunction granted by the court against using three songs of Ilaiyaraaja in the movie.
After hearing the respective counsels, Justice N Senthilkumar reserved the orders on Thursday. The interim injunction was granted on September 8, 2025 restraining the producers from using the songs - Otha Rupayum Tharen (Nattupura Pattu), Ilamai Idho Idho (Sakalakala Vallavan) and En Jodi Mancha Kuruvi (Vikram) - from the movie based on the civil suits and applications filed by Ilaiyaraaja who had alleged infringement of copyright on his musical works.
Senior counsel PV Balasubramaniam, representing Mythri Movie Makers, submitted the producers have obtained permission from the music labels concerned for using the songs.
He noted the producers of ‘Good Bad Ugly’ have been caught between the producers of movies, of which the contentious songs belong to, and the music director. Whatever, it may be, the payment will be made to the owners of the song, he said.
Advocate A Saravanan, appearing for Ilaiyaraaja, told the court the musical works are not part of the cinematograph film and so, the songs of a movie cannot be culled out and be exploited.
He also submitted that the music composer did not have an employer-employee relationship with the producers and had not given the rights to issue the songs.
The advocate also said the music composer does not want remuneration for ‘exploiting’ his musical works but expects the producers to obtain prior permission.