Whalesbook
Copyright Dispute Over "En Iniya Pon Nilave" Resolved
The Delhi High Court has dismissed music composer Ilaiyaraaja's appeal concerning the copyright of the Tamil song "En Iniya Pon Nilave." A Division Bench affirmed that Ilaiyaraaja holds no copyright over the lyrics or the sound recording of the iconic track. This ruling clarifies that under the Copyright Act, a "musical work" pertains solely to the musical composition, excluding lyrics and sound recordings.
Producer's Assignment to Saregama Upheld
The court recognized that the copyright for the film "Moodu Pani," which featured the original song, vested with the producer, Raja Cine Arts. This producer had previously assigned all rights to Saregama India Limited, a fact central to the legal dispute. Saregama initiated legal action in January 2025 against Vels Films International when they planned to use a recreated version of the song in the film "Aghathiyaa."
Vels Films claimed they had obtained a license from Ilaiyaraaja for the adaptation. However, a single judge bench had previously rejected this, finding a strong argument for Saregama's ownership based on the producer's assignment. The single judge also highlighted that Ilaiyaraaja was not the lyricist, thus he could not assign rights for the lyrical content.
Impact on Music Rights and Royalties
This decision reinforces the principle that copyright ownership in films extends to accompanying sound recordings and is typically held by the producer. The court’s interpretation of Section 2(p) of the Copyright Act, which defines a "musical work," signifies a critical distinction between composition and derivative elements like lyrics and recorded performances. This could impact future royalty distributions and licensing negotiations for re-recordings and adaptations in the Indian music industry. Saregama's assertion of ownership over the sound recordings and literary works from "Moodu Pani," based on a 1980 agreement, has been validated. The outcome means that any future use of the original sound recording or lyrics would require Saregama's consent, potentially leading to new licensing agreements and revenue streams for the music label. This decision underscores the importance of clear contractual assignments in film and music production.