Ilaiyaraaja Issues Legal Notice Over Disco Disco song in Coolie

Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja sends a legal notice to “Coolie” producers for using his composition without permission, sparking a legal battle.

Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja has sent a legal notice to the producers of Rajinikanth’s upcoming film “Coolie,” directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, alleging unauthorized use of his composition. The notice points out that the teaser for the film uses a portion of the song ‘Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa’ from the 1983 movie “Thanga Magan,” for which Ilaiyaraaja holds the copyright. The portion in question is remixed in the teaser, violating the Copyright Act of 1957.

The legendary composer, through his legal representatives, asserts that Sun Pictures did not seek formal permission before using his music in the teaser. Ilaiyaraaja’s notice demands that the producers either obtain proper authorization for the use of the song or remove it from the teaser. The notice warns of serious legal repercussions if the producers do not comply.

Ilaiyaraaja also notes that Lokesh Kanagaraj previously used his music in the film “Vikram” without proper authorization. The composer emphasizes that his intellectual property should be respected, and any unauthorized use of his work constitutes a violation of his rights.

This is not the first legal challenge regarding music rights in Indian cinema. In a similar case, SP Balasubramanyam’s son, SP Charan, sent legal notices to director Tharun Bhascker for using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to recreate SPB’s voice for a song in the film “Keeda Cola.” Charan’s legal representatives demanded compensation of Rs. 1 crore for unauthorized use of SPB’s AI-generated voice, along with an apology and a share in the royalty. The family does not object to fans using AI technology to recreate songs for personal use, but they have a problem when it is used in professional projects without permission and credits.

These legal challenges highlight the complexities surrounding intellectual property rights in the Indian film industry, especially with the advent of new technologies like AI. Music and voice are integral to cinema, and proper permissions and credits must be given to avoid legal repercussions.

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Producers of “Coolie” have yet to respond publicly to Ilaiyaraaja’s legal notice, and it remains to be seen how they will address the claims of unauthorized music usage. As the film is set to star Tamil megastar Rajinikanth, the resolution of this legal matter could have significant implications for the movie’s release and its creative direction.