Veteran music composer Ilaiyaraaja, who recently initiated multiple copyright infringement cases over the unauthorised use of his compositions in several films, has now suffered a legal setback in the Delhi High Court.
Earlier, Ilaiyaraaja had secured favourable orders from the Madras High Court, directing filmmakers to immediately remove songs after he objected that they had used his works without obtaining prior permission.
However, in a fresh development, the Delhi High Court has passed an interim order restraining the maestro from using or commercially exploiting several sound recordings and musical works. The order came in response to a petition filed by leading music label Saregama.
Saregama alleged that Ilaiyaraaja had been granting licences to third parties and uploading songs on streaming platforms such as Amazon Music, iTunes, and JioSaavn, claiming ownership over the works. The company contended that the original film producers had already entered into agreements granting Saregama exclusive, worldwide, and perpetual rights to reproduce, license, and commercially exploit the music as part of various films.
After examining the submissions, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued an interim order barring Ilaiyaraaja from further exploitation of songs in a catalogue spanning over 130 films across multiple languages. The court observed that under the Copyright Act, 1957, the film producer is generally considered the first owner of the copyright unless a contract specifies otherwise. Based on the agreements placed before the court, it held that Saregama’s rights require protection at this stage.
Notably, both Saregama and Ilaiyaraaja are already engaged in a legal dispute over the popular Tamil song ‘En Iniya Pon Nilave’. In January last year, the court ruled in favour of Saregama, clearly stating that Ilaiyaraaja cannot assign the song to third parties as the music label holds the copyright.
The latest interim order marks a significant turn in the ongoing copyright battle between the legendary composer and the music giant.
Sobhita Dhulipala: I Don’t Believe in PR Games
At a time when aggressive PR strategies and constant media visibility dominate the film industry, Sobhita Dhulipala has chosen a different path. Riding high on the success of her Amazon Prime original film Cheekatlo, the Telugu actress has openly spoken about her decision to stay away from the publicity game.
During a recent interaction with Bollywood media, Sobhita was asked about the kind of PR strategy she follows. Her response was clear and candid. She said she does not want to be in the public eye 24/7 just for the sake of visibility. According to her, maintaining that kind of constant presence requires every move to be tracked and publicised — something she is not comfortable with.
Sobhita also pointed out that she is not from Mumbai but comes from a small town and has built her career independently. She expressed her desire to continue growing on her own merit rather than depending heavily on PR machinery. At the same time, she acknowledged that some actors prefer that route and are happy with it.
Speaking about Cheekatlo, she shared her happiness about working on the project, especially because it allowed her to dub in Telugu — her mother tongue. She mentioned that dubbing felt natural and effortless, adding to her overall satisfaction with the film.
In an industry where visibility often equals value, Sobhita’s approach stands out — choosing substance over noise and letting her work speak louder than publicity.