The Delhi High Court has instructed renowned music composer AR Rahman and production company Madras Talkies to deposit Rs 2 crores with the court registry as part of a copyright infringement case. This ruling, issued on April 25, also mandates the payment of Rs 2 lakh in costs to Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, the plaintiff. The case revolves around the song “Veera Raja Veera” from the 2023 film Ponniyin Selvan 2, which has been accused of copying a previous composition.
The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by Indian classical vocalist and Padma Shri awardee Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, who claims that “Veera Raja Veera” infringes on Shiva Stuti, a composition created by his father, Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar, and uncle, Zahiruddin Dagar, known collectively as the Junior Dagar Brothers. Dagar is seeking a permanent injunction to halt the song’s use, along with damages and recognition of moral rights.Justice Prathiba M Singh, overseeing the case, noted that Shiva Stuti did not merely serve as inspiration for “Veera Raja Veera,” but was “identical” to it, with only minor alterations. Dagar argued that the song’s taal, beat, and musical structure closely mirrored Shiva Stuti, despite differing lyrics.
On contrary, AR Rahman asserted that Shiva Stuti is a traditional composition within the public domain of the Dhrupad genre of Hindustani classical music. He further claimed that “Veera Raja Veera” is an original work featuring 227 distinct layers and incorporates Western musical elements. As part of the court’s interim order, Rahman and Madras Talkies are required to deposit the Rs 2 crores while the case is ongoing. Additionally, after initially neglecting to do so, the defendants have been instructed to update the song credits on online platforms to acknowledge the Junior Dagar Brothers.
