Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja, through his legal team, secured a major victory from the Madras High Court on September 8, 2025, when Justice N. Senthilkumar issued an interim injunction restraining producers Mythri Movie Makers from exhibiting, screening, distributing, or broadcasting Ajith Kumar’s ‘Good Bad Ugly’ (GBU) with three of his iconic songs. The order, stemming from a copyright infringement suit filed in Chennai, prohibits any use of the tracks on platforms, including OTT, until further hearings. Ilaiyaraaja, claiming ownership under the Copyright Act, 1957, demanded ₹5 crore in damages, a public apology, and revenue disclosure after the film allegedly used the songs without his consent.
The Songs in Question
The disputed compositions, all from Ilaiyaraaja’s golden era, include “Otha Ruba Tharen” from Nattupura Pattu (1996, starring Sivakumar), “Ilamai Idho Idho” from Sakalakala Vallavan (1982, Kamal Haasan), and “En Jodi Manja Kuruvi” from Vikram (1986, also Kamal Haasan). Ilaiyaraaja argued these were incorporated in modified form in GBU, directed by Adhik Ravichandran and starring Ajith, Trisha Krishnan, Arjun Das, and Jackie Shroff, without royalties or permission, violating Sections 19(9) and 19(10) of the Copyright Act. The film, released April 10, 2025, grossed nearly ₹100 crore in its first week, but the composer’s legal notice in April highlighted unauthorized commercial exploitation.
Court’s Rationale and Producer’s Response
Justice Senthilkumar deemed the producers’ reply to Ilaiyaraaja’s notice “bald” and unsubstantiated, granting the ex parte interim relief. The court noted Ilaiyaraaja’s unchallenged status as the first copyright owner, emphasizing moral rights protection against alteration. Mythri Movie Makers claimed rights from music labels but failed to provide evidence, leading to the restraint. The next hearing is in two weeks, where producers must submit detailed submissions, potentially deciding if the injunction becomes permanent. This isn’t Ilaiyaraaja’s first battle; he settled with Manjummel Boys for ₹60 lakh in 2024 over “Kanmani Anbodu” and issued notices to Coolie for a promo song.
A Broader Debate on Music Rights
GBU’s controversy highlights the tension between filmmakers’ creative freedom and composers’ moral rights in a streaming era. With 467 million social media users amplifying such disputes, it raises questions: Will this deter remixes or strengthen protections? As Ilaiyaraaja, at 82, fights for legacy, his win could set precedents, ensuring artists like him aren’t sidelined in the ₹15,000 crore annual film music market. For GBU, already a hit, the restraint is a bump, but it spotlights the need for transparent rights clearance in India’s diverse 780-language cinema landscape.
-By Manoj H