Ilaiyaraaja Sends Legal Notice Over Unauthorized Use of Song in ‘Manjummel Boys’

Renowned composer Ilaiyaraaja has sent a legal notice to the makers of the Malayalam film ‘Manjummel Boys‘ for unauthorized use of one of his songs without permission. The notice alleges that the film’s producers used the song ‘Kanmani Anbodu‘ from the Tamil film ‘Gunaa‘ without seeking proper consent or license from Ilaiyaraaja.

While the makers did credit Ilaiyaraaja in the film’s title cards, the composer clarified that this acknowledgment does not substitute for his explicit permission to use his musical work. He emphasized that the exploitation of his work for commercial purposes without his consent and without payment of royalty constitutes a violation of copyright law. Ilaiyaraaja has demanded compensation from the producers within 15 days, failing which legal action will be pursued.

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Ilaiyaraaja asserted his absolute rights as the first owner of his original musical compositions, including the song featured in ‘Gunaa’. He cited moral rights over his work and emphasized the importance of obtaining proper authorization for its use in any commercial venture.

The legal dispute comes amidst previous allegations of conspiracy and fraud against the producers of ‘Manjummel Boys’. The court had previously intervened in the case, staying further proceedings and preventing the arrest of individuals involved. The interim order was issued in response to a petition filed by Babu Shahir, a partner of Parava Films, which produced the movie.

Directed by Chidambaram, ‘Manjummel Boys’ enjoyed commercial success, grossing over Rs 200 crores worldwide. However, the film’s journey has been marred by controversy, including accusations of profit-sharing discrepancies raised by individuals associated with the project.