Madras High Court Declines Interim Order in Ilaiyaraaja’s Song Usage Dispute

Swift Summary

• Music composer R. Ilaiyarajaa filed a civil suit against Vanitha Film Productions, accusing them of using his song ‘Sivarathri’ in the movie Mrs.and Mr. without permission and misusing his personality rights for promotional purposes.
• The Madras High Court did not pass an ex-parte interim order on Monday (July 14,2025),giving the production house one week to file a counter affidavit.
• Ilaiyarajaa seeks removal of ‘Sivarathri,’ composed originally for the 1990 film Michael Madana Kama Rajan, from Mrs. and Mr., along with a disclosure of profits derived from exploiting his rights.
• Two applications were filed by him: one requesting an interim ban on selling or screening the movie with the song, and another asking for its removal from Mrs.& Mr.
• The producer’s counsel claimed they acquired rights to use the song from an audio company amid unresolved disputes between Ilaiyarajaa and entities Echo Recording/Sony Music.
• Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy asked about both copyright ownership over ‘Sivarathri’ and alleged misuse of personality rights in advertisements but deferred any decision pending further arguments.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The case highlights significant legal complexities surrounding artistic copyrights,particularly in India’s film industry where intellectual property disputes are relatively common. The differing claims-Ilaiyarajaa asserting undisputed ownership versus Vanitha Productions citing purchased usage rights-reflect broader challenges regarding clarity in copyright contracts over time.Additionally, allegations concerning misuse of personality rights touch upon evolving legal considerations pertaining to artist identity protection.

Should this matter lead to clearer judicial guidelines on intellectual property usage across media platforms,it could set precedents benefiting composers while promoting transparency among production houses. Though, until resolution is achieved, such cases underline ongoing ambiguities within India’s creative industries despite growing calls for stricter enforcement frameworks.Read More: Link