Delhi High Court Holds Off on "Ponniyin Selvan 2" Copyright Case
Court halts action against AR Rahman and 'Ponniyin Selvan 2' producers in copyright dispute
In the heart of India, a copyright storm is brewing! The legendary composer, A.R. Rahman, and the team behind the upcoming film, "Ponniyin Selvan 2," face charges of copyright infraction over a musical composition, "Veera Raja Veera." The song stands accused of being extraordinarily like the classical piece, "Shiva Stuti," by the Junior Dagar Brothers—Late Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar and Late Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar.
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, the son and nephew of the original musicians, claims he is the rightful copyright holder for their works, including "Shiva Stuti." He alleges that the defendants have illicitly infringed upon these copyrights.
Last month, a single judge in the Delhi High Court ruled that the core of "Veera Raja Veera" was not merely inspired but "identical" in essence to "Shiva Stuti." The court imposed a heavy fine of 2 crore rupees on Rahman and the filmmakers, required a credit slide acknowledging the Junior Dagar Brothers, and awarded 2 lakh rupees in costs to a family member of the late artists [1][3][4].
On May 6, a division bench of the Delhi High Court (Justices C. Hari Shankar and Ajay Digpaul) has suspended these interim judgments, preserving the status quo [2][4][5]. The bench maintained the direction to deposit the 2 crore rupees with the court registry within 10 days, but they have temporarily halted the demand for a credit slide and the award of costs. Rahman's appeal and stay application will be heard on May 23, 2025 [2][4].
These recent developments underline the intricacies surrounding copyright in Indian classical music and the dispute over drawing the line between inspiration and infringement in the industry [3].
Here's a concise summary of the key points:
| Aspect | Single Judge Order (Apr 25, 2025) | Division Bench Stay (May 6, 2025) ||----------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|| Rs 2 Crore Deposit | Ordered | Stayed, but must deposit with court || Credit Slide Requirement | Ordered | Stayed || Rs 2 Lakh Costs | Awarded | — || Next Hearing | — | May 23, 2025 |
The court's interim orders underscore the gravity with which they're addressing the alleged infringement, while providing the defendants temporary relief until the next hearing on May 23, 2025 [2][4][5]. Stay tuned for further updates on this riveting case!
- A.R. Rahman and the team behind the movie "Ponniyin Selvan 2" have an upcoming online appeal in the Delhi High Court regarding the copyright infringement claims over the song "Veera Raja Veera."
- Despite the single judge's order for a credit slide acknowledging the Junior Dagar Brothers and a heavy fine of 2 crore rupees, the deposit and the requirement for a credit slide have been temporarily stayed by the division bench.
- The geekiest of entertainment enthusiasts, following the "movies-and-tv" sphere, will keep their eyes on the copyright issue in Indian classical music, as the later hearing for Rahman's appeal and stay application is scheduled for May 23, 2025.
