Ilaiyaraaja cannot claim rights to songs in 134 films, says Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has refused to lift the interim injunction it had previously imposed, holding that Ilaiyaraaja does not have the right to use 134 film songs, including 'Annakkili' and '16 Vayathinile'.

Saregama India Ltd had filed a case in the Delhi High Court claiming that it owns the music and sound recording rights to around 134 films for which Ilaiyaraaja composed the music between 1976 and 2001. The company stated that it had entered into formal agreements with the producers of those films and had acquired worldwide, perpetual copyright over the works.

Saregama argued that Ilaiyaraaja's uploading of these songs to digital platforms such as Amazon Music, iTunes, and JioSaavn, while claiming them as his own, was unlawful. The company's counsel contended that under the Copyright Act, 1957, the producer is the first owner of the music created for a film.

After hearing the matter, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela of the Delhi High Court accepted Saregama's arguments and granted an interim injunction. While hearing Ilaiyaraaja's plea seeking to vacate the injunction, the court observed: "Under the Copyright Act, the producer owns the music created for a film, and Ilaiyaraaja does not have the right to use 134 film songs, including Annakkili, 16 Vayathinile, Mullum Malarum, and Raja Paarvai."

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