Madras High Court Interim Order Restrains 'Good Bad Ugly' Makers From Using Ilaiyaraja Songs In The Movie

Justice N Senthilkumar granted the temporary injunction in a plea moved by the musician seeking to restrain Mythri Movie Makers, producers of the movie, from exhibiting, screening, selling, distributing, publishing, broadcasting the movie, along with the three songs of Ilaiyaraja.

Ilaiyaraja had argued that the songs "Otha Rubayum Tharen" from the movie "Nattupura Pattu", the song "Ilamai Idho Ido" from the movie "Sakalakala Vallavan", and the song "En Jodi Manja Kuruvi" from the movie "Vikram" had been used in the Ajith movie without obtaining express consent or permission from him and without paying royalties to which he is statutorily entitled.

He thus claimed that the action constituted unauthorised use, appropriation, and a clear infringement of his copyright and moral rights. It was argued that Ilayaraja had not accorded any permission or consent, either express or implied, for using, altering, distorting, or changing the form of the songs to be used in the new movie.

Relying on Section 19(9) and Section 19(10) of the Copyright Act, Ilayaraja claimed that as the composer of the songs, he was entitled to receive royalties for their use across any medium. However, despite the statutory protection, his works were violated.

Ilayaraja thus contended that there was an infringement of Section 51 of the Copyright Act and that he was fully entitled to pursue remedies, including an injunction against further use or distribution of infringing content, statutory damages and recovery of unpaid royalties, criminal prosecution for wilful infringement under Section 63 and legal action for violation of moral rights under Section 57.

Case Title: Dr Ilaiyaraja v. Mythri Movie Makers

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 298

Case No: OA 889/ 2025 AND C.S(COMM DIV).226/2025