The world of cinema is often fraught with controversies and disputes over creative rights, and the latest one to make headlines involves renowned composer Ilaiyaraaja’s stand on the use of his musical compositions. Known as a stalwart in the Indian music industry, Ilaiyaraaja’s contributions to film music have been significant and numerous, with a career spread over more than four decades. The maestro, whose work has been an instrumental part of Indian cinema’s soundscape, is currently in a battle over the copyright of 4,500 songs, all of which he composed for over 1,000 films between the 1970s and the 1990s.
Ilaiyaraaja has consistently demonstrated a zealous approach to protecting his creative outputs. In this line, a fresh controversy has surfaced surrounding the unauthorized use of the song ‘Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa’ from the 1983 film ‘Thanga Magan’ in an upcoming film starring superstar Rajinikanth called ‘Coolie’. The production company behind the new movie, Sun Pictures, found itself in the middle of legal strife following the release of a promo with the title reveal for the film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.
The title promo, intended to get fans excited about the upcoming movie, featured a montage of homages to Rajinikanth, which included a remixed snippet of the iconic ‘Thanga Magan’ track. This use of Ilaiyaraaja’s song without his consent has led to a legal notice being issued by the composer’s legal team. In the notice, it’s asserted that the incorporation of this song in the ‘Coolie’ teaser stands as an infringement of the rights of one of the world’s top music composers.
Ilaiyaraaja’s claim to “special moral rights,” a legal principle that recognizes the personal connection between creators and their creations, is at the heart of the legal action. The notice clearly specifies that he retains all the rights to his compositions, which includes moral rights, and the act of using the song without securing the “necessary and appropriate permission/license from the author/owner of the musical works” amounts to a blatant violation of copyright laws.
To resolve the issue, the notice outlines a straightforward demand: Sun Pictures must either secure Ilaiyaraaja’s express consent to use the musical portion in question or excise the remixed track entirely from the film ‘Coolie’. Non-compliance will provoke further legal action.
While awaiting a public response from Sun Pictures to the notice, it is worth noting that ‘Coolie’ has music composed by Anirudh Ravichander, a name frequently collaborating with director Lokesh Kanagaraj and who previously scored for Rajinikanth’s film ‘Jailer’. The combination of these creative minds in the past has resulted in notable success, with Sun Pictures having bankrolled several of Rajinikanth’s big-ticket movies, including ‘Enthiran’, ‘Petta’, ‘Annaatthe’, and ‘Jailer’.
The case spotlighted today is a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions between artistic ownership and the desire to pay homage to cinema legends within the Indian film fraternity. As audiences eagerly anticipate further developments, there is much discussion about copyright ethics and the rights of artists in the emerging digital era, where the lines between inspiration and infringement are becoming increasingly blurred.
Tamil cinema and the wider Indian film industry tend to revere figures such as Rajinikanth and Ilaiyaraaja, making the current dispute tinged with a blend of respect, nostalgia, and the complex dynamics of intellectual property rights. As the situation unfolds, it is a poignant reflection of the evolving conversation around the ownership and legacy of creative work in the modern age.
