Delhi High Court Issues ₹2 Crore Order Against A R Rahman for Copyright Violation

The Delhi High Court has made an important decision about a song called “Veera Raja Veera,” which is part of the movie “Ponniyin Selvan 2.” The court found that this song sounds very much like another song called “Shiva Stuti,” created by the famous Junior Dagar Brothers. As a result, the court has asked music composer A R Rahman and Madras Talkies (the production company) to put ₹2 crore (20 million rupees) in the court’s account.

Justice Prathiba M Singh said that “Veera Raja Veera” is not just inspired by “Shiva Stuti” but actually is the same song with only a few words changed. Although some new sounds were added to make it modern, the core music is the same.

This court ruling came after Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, a family member of the original composers, filed a lawsuit. The court also stated that on streaming services and online platforms, the song should give credit to the Dagar Brothers by saying it is based on “Shiva Stuti.” They also ordered that ₹2 lakh (200,000 rupees) be paid to the Dagar family for their costs.

In the ruling, Justice Singh noted that Rahman, who is well-known worldwide, didn’t initially credit the Dagar Brothers. It was only after Ustad Dagar reached out that Rahman reluctantly acknowledged their work. The court pointed out that the Dagar family has a strong case for copyright infringement. If the song and movie are released without proper recognition, it could hurt the original composers’ rights.

Rahman and his team argued that “Shiva Stuti” is part of traditional Hindustani music, which they believe belongs to the public and is not protected by copyright. However, the court disagreed, stating that original works in Hindustani music can indeed be protected under copyright laws.

The court highlighted that there is a deep connection between “Shiva Stuti” and “Veera Raja Veera,” even noting that the singers of the disputed song trained under Ustad Dagar. This shows the strong link between the two songs.

The ₹2 crore ordered by the court will stay in a fixed account until the lawsuit is fully resolved. Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, a well-known classical singer and Padma Shri awardee, started this case to protect his family’s rights and seek compensation. The Dagar Brothers were respected figures in classical music, and their work remains important. This situation raises larger questions about how we respect and credit original music, especially when it is used in new works.