Madras High Court Bars Use of Ilaiyaraaja’s Songs in Ajith Kumar-Starrer ‘Good Bad Ugly

Quick Summary

• The Madras High Court issued an interim injunction on September 8, 2025, restraining Mythri Movie Makers from exhibiting, distributing, or broadcasting the movie Good Bad Ugly (GBU) starring Ajith Kumar.
• Three songs composed by R. ilaiyaraaja in earlier films between 1982 and 1996 were alleged to be used without his permission in GBU.
• The lawsuit was filed by Ilaiyaraaja citing copyright infringement under the Copyright Act of 1957.
• Justice N. Senthilkumar granted the injunction due to insufficient details in the production firm’s reply about alleged authorization for using these songs.
• Songs involved: Otha Ruba Tharen (Nattupura Pattu, 1996), Ilamai Idho Idho (Sakalakala Vallavan, 1982), and En Jodi Manja Kuruvi (Vikram, 1986).
• Ilaiyaraaja argued that he is the copyright holder of these songs and that his consent was required for their commercial use.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The case underscores critical issues surrounding intellectual property rights and accountability in India’s creative industries. With Ilaiyaraaja being a celebrated figure holding significant copyrights over classic compositions, this suit highlights how ancient works remain legally protected even decades later. It also raises questions about due diligence within film production firms when using previously created artistic materials. The court’s decision sets a precedent reinforcing stringent adherence to copyright laws for music usage across mediums.

this ruling may influence producers to adopt stricter compliance protocols while crafting soundtracks involving older tracks, perhaps bolstering respect for intellectual property ownership among artists and creators nationwide.

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