Madras High Court Asks Sony Music To Give Details Of Revenue Obtained From Broadcasting Ilaiyaraaja's Songs

Justice N Senthilkumar issued the directions in a plea filed by the Music Composer seeking to declare that Sony had no rights, title or interest in music works of Ilaiyaraaja. The latter has also sought to restrain the music company from continuing the telecast/broadcast of his works.

“The facts could be decided only when the defendant files their detailed counter. Senior Counsel for the defendants submits that the interim prayer would cause them huge damage. The facts could be decided only after seeing their counter. Post the case on 22/10/25. Meanwhile, the defendants shall furnish the day-to-day revenue collected by broadcasting or telecasting of plaintiff's songs or movies till 22^nd October,” the court said.

Ilaiyaraaja argued that he had a distinguished career and had composed over 7,500 songs. He argued that he had consistently asserted and exercised his authorship and ownership, retaining absolute rights and titles, including moral rights, over his original composition and connected sound recordings. It was also argued that his works are not created at the instance, direction, or under the control of any producer, but rather emerge from his complete creative autonomy, basis only certain inputs from the director.

Ilaiyaraaja had thus sought to declare that the musical works composed by hims were his independent creations and constitute a separate and distinct work under the copyright law his works are not created at the instance, direction, or under the control of any producer, but rather emerge from his complete creative autonomy, based only on certain inputs from the director. He had sought to declare that the copyright in his musical works vested exclusively with him as the original author, first owner, and continuing copyright holder. He had also sought to declare that Sony music had not acquired any rights, title, or interest in Ilaiyaraaja's musical works.

When the matter was taken up today, Senior Advocate Prabakaran, appearing for the music composer, argued that the music company was taking his music and distorting it. It was submitted that the company was introducing beats into his songs, remixing them, and distorting it. It was thus argued that, as per Section 38B of the Copyright Act, even after assignment, the author could restrain or claim damages in respect of any distortion, mutilation, or other modification of his performance that would be prejudicial to his reputation.

On the other hand, Senior Advocate Vijay Narayan, appearing for Sony Music, submitted that prior to the 2012 amendment to the Copyright Act, when the producer engages the music composer, the producer becomes the owner of the music after paying the composer. It was submitted that Echo Recording had purchased the rights with respect to 118 movies and had then sold the rights to oriental records, which was then sold to Sony. Thus, Narayan argued that Ilaiyaraaja could not continue to claim ownership with respect to the musical works.

Narayan also submitted that not every distortion or modification of the assigned work was protected, and the author could seek damages only when the modification affected the author's reputation.

Narayan also informed that a similar suit was pending before the Bombay High Court and Ilaiyaraaja could not claim similar reliefs in the present plea. It was also submitted that there was no urgency in the matter

After hearing the parties, the court noted that the primary issue was whether the producers of the movie were made parties to the earlier proceedings in which a single judge had prevented monetisation of Ilaiyaraaja's work. The court added that it had to be looked on whether the producers had entered into an agreement with Ilaiyaraaja.

The court decided to take up the matter on October 22, and asked the music company to produce their accounts by that time.

Case Title: Dr Ilaiyaraaja v Sony Music Entertainment India Private Ltd and Others

Case No: OA 946 of 2025 and C.S (Comm Div) 249 of 2025