Delhi HC restrains Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting Saregama copyrighted works

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Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja. File.
| Photograph Credit score: PTI

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has handed an interim order in favour of Saregama India Restricted, restraining famous music composer Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting copyrighted works claimed by the label in 134 movies relationship again to 1976.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, whereas listening to a industrial go well with filed by Saregama on February 13, famous that prima facie a “robust case” was made out in favour of the music firm.

In keeping with the corporate, the composer issued a authorized discover on January 13, 2026, claiming rights over musical works composed and organized by him for the movies in query.

Saregama informed the court docket that between 1976 and 2001, it entered into task agreements with producers of a number of cinematograph movies. By advantage of those agreements, it claimed possession of the copyrights on the sound recordings in addition to the underlying musical and literary works of songs forming a part of these movies.

The corporate alleged that within the first week of February 2026, it got here throughout the infringing use of the copyrighted works by Mr. Ilaiyaraaja by importing the identical on varied platforms equivalent to Amazon music, iTunes, and Jio Saavan. It additionally alleged that Mr. Ilaiyaraaja had made possession claims over the content material.

The court docket took observe of earlier Supreme Court docket’s ruling, which held that the place a composer creates music for a movie for consideration, the producer turns into the primary proprietor of the copyright until there’s a contract on the contrary.

After perusing the assorted paperwork positioned on file, the court docket mentioned, “the irreparable loss and damage which can be brought about to the plaintiff on account of the purported infringement by the defendant might not be adequately compensated in financial phrases in case ex-parte ad-interim injunction shouldn’t be granted”.

The court docket restrained Mr. Ilaiyaraaja, his brokers, and representatives from exploiting or issuing licences for the corporate’s copyrighted works i.e. the sound recordings and literary and musical works forming part of the 134 movies talked about by the corporate in its plea.

The order covers an intensive listing of 134 movies, together with well-known titles equivalent to Annakkili (1976), 16 Vayathiniley (1977), Mullum Malarum (1978), Netrikkann (1981), and Raaja Paarvai (1981).

Revealed – February 17, 2026 10:46 pm IST