The Delhi High Court has directed renowned music composer AR Rahman and the producers of "Ponniyin Selvan 2" to deposit ₹2 crore as part of an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit. The case was filed in 2023 by singer Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, who alleged that the song "Veera Raja Veera" from the film infringes on the copyright of the Junior Dagar brothers' classical rendition of Shiv Stuti.
In an interim order issued on April 25th, Justice Prathiba M Singh stated that, from a listener's perspective, Rahman's "Veera Raja Veera" was "not just inspired but is, in fact, identical" to the Shiv Stuti composition.
Recognizing the artistic contribution of the late Junior Dagar Brothers, the court also mandated that the film include a special credit slide acknowledging them on all OTT and online platforms where it is available. Additionally, the court granted ₹2 lakh to their family as a mark of recognition for their musical work.
The court elaborated, "Upon careful examination, this court concludes that the contested song is not merely influenced by or drawing inspiration from the original composition Shiva Stuti, but rather it is essentially the same musical work with altered lyrics. While other elements may have been added, giving the song a more contemporary feel, the fundamental musical structure remains identical."
The "Veera Raja Veera" Legal Challenge:
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, son of Faiyazuddin Dagar and nephew of Zahiruddin Dagar, asserted in his lawsuit that he holds the copyright to all original compositions by the Junior Dagar Brothers, including their rendition of Shiv Stuti. He contended that despite having different lyrics, the "taal, beat, and musical structure" of "Veera Raja Veera" are indistinguishable from Shiv Stuti.
According to a PTI report, the Delhi High Court stated, "Consequently, the defendant's musical piece infringes upon the complainant's rights in Shiva Stuti. The defendants – Mr. Rahman, Madras Talkies, and Lyca Productions – are hereby directed to deposit ₹2 crore with the court. This amount will be placed in a fixed deposit pending the final resolution of the lawsuit."
Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Rahman and Madras Talkies from further use of the song, as well as claiming damages and the recognition of moral rights related to the original composition.
Reportedly, AR Rahman's legal counsel argued that Shiv Stuti belongs to the traditional Dhrupad genre, a form of classical music considered to be in the public domain. They further contended that its singing style and composition lacked the originality required for copyright protection.
The ₹2 crore deposit ordered by the Delhi High Court will remain in a fixed deposit until the final verdict is reached in this copyright dispute.
