CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has issued an interim injunction restraining Mythri Movie Makers, producers of ‘Dude’, starring Pradeep Ranganathan, from using two songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Justice N Senthilkumar granted the relief on a civil suit and applications filed by the composer against unauthorised adaptation of his songs ‘Nooru Varusham’ and ‘Karutha Machan’ in the film.
“As the plaintiff (Ilaiyaraaja) has made out a prima facie case that his musical works are distorted and utilised by the respondent without authorisation and the same is detrimental to the integrity and purity of his original work and causing damage to the reputation, the balance of convenience is in favour of him,” the judge said in the order. He added, “In view of the same, an order of interim injunction is granted until further orders.”
Senior counsel S Prabakaran, appearing for Ilaiyaraaja, submitted that the two songs have been distorted, and such distortion is unauthorised adaptation and is used without permission from the composer who is the author of the works. He also told the court that distortion and unauthorised use of the works infringe upon the special rights protected under Section 57 of the Copyright Act.
However, senior counsel PV Balasubramanian, representing Mythri Movie Makers, informed the court Ilaiyaraaja cannot claim authorship to the musical works as the producers of the movie had entered into agreement with the music label. He said his client had entered into an agreement with Sony Music for using the songs as the music label had obtained rights from the producers of the movies, for which, Ilaiyaraaja had composed the songs.
Citing a 2014 judgment on Ilaiyaraaja’s rights and the order on the appeal against it, Justice Senthilkumar held that the ace music composer holds the rights as author of his works.