Delhi HC Pulls Up AR Rahman In Veera Raja Veera Row, Orders Rs 2 Cr Deposit Over Copyright Dispute

AR Rahman Song Controversy: On Friday, the Delhi High Court delivered a significant interim decision involving acclaimed music director AR Rahman and Madras Talkies, the production company behind the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan 2 (PS2). The court found that the song "Veera Raja Veera" closely mirrored "Shiva Stuti," a piece originally composed by the father and uncle of Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, a distinguished classical vocalist. This ruling came in response to a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Dagar, who argued that the song's musical core was improperly replicated from "Shiva Stuti."

Justice Prathiba M. Singh presided over the case and directed both AR Rahman and Madras Talkies to amend the song credits to rightfully acknowledge Nasir Faiyazuddin and Zahiruddin Dagar, members of the junior Dagar brothers. The court's decision underscores the importance of crediting original creators, noting the initial failure to recognize Dagar's contribution to the song's composition.

As a corrective measure, the court ordered the inclusion of a new credit slide across all online platforms and OTTs stating the song's inspiration from "Shiva Stuti" by the late Ustad N Faiyazuddin Dagar and late Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar. Furthermore, the court mandated that AR Rahman and Madras Talkies deposit a sum of ₹2 crore with its registry and pay ₹2 lakh in costs to the Dagars. This financial penalty accompanies the court's demand for proper attribution to the creators of the original composition. The court's finding that the song was not simply inspired by but "exact identical to the song composition with mere changes" emphasizes the severity of the copyright infringement.

Justice Singh's ruling also highlighted a significant aspect of copyright law as it pertains to Hindustani classical music. She clarified that original compositions in this genre are protected under the Copyright Act, allowing composers to exercise all rights associated with their work. This statement reinforces the legal protections available to creators of original music compositions, ensuring their contributions are safeguarded against unauthorized use.

In his lawsuit, Dagar, honored with the Padma Shri award, sought recognition and justice for the unauthorized usage of "Shiva Stuti," underscoring the similarity in musical structure, rhythm, and beat between the two compositions despite differing lyrics. The court's directive for a new credit slide serves as a remedial measure, rectifying the previous oversight and acknowledging the original composers' contributions. This case sheds light on the intricate issues surrounding copyright in the music industry, particularly involving classical compositions. It underscores the necessity of recognizing and honoring the original creators of musical works to maintain the integrity and heritage of classical music traditions. The detailed judgment, yet to be released, will provide further insights into the court's reasoning and the implications for copyright law and the protection of intellectual property in the music industry.