Ilaiyaraaja issues legal notice to makers of Ajith Kumar's 'Good Bad Ugly'

CHENNAI: Veteran composer sends legal notice alleging unauthorised usage of his songs

Chennai: The musical maestro and Padma Bhushan recipient Ilaiyaraaja has sent a legal notice to the makers of Ajith Kumar’s latest film ‘Good Bad Ugly’, demanding Rs 5 crore for alleged unauthorised usage of his songs.

Ilaiyaraaja, in his legal notice, stated that the makers of the recently released film commercially used his songs such as "Otha Rubaai Tharen" from the film Naattupura Pattu (1996), "Ilamai Idho Idho" from Sakalakala Vallavan (1982), and "En Jodi Manja Kuruvi" from Vikram (1986) without obtaining his consent and permission.

Ilaiyaraaja further stated that he holds moral and legal rights to his works because he is the author, creator, and original owner of all of his works.

Good Bad Ugly makers using and altering my works without my consent amounts to infringement of the copyright and moral right I hold, the veteran composer said in his legal notice.

Sections 19 (9) and 19 (10) of the Copyright Act explicitly lay down the right of a composer to receive royalty for the use of his/her musical works created for cinematograph films. Therefore, he is entitled to an equal share of royalty in case of exploitation of his musical works across any medium, the legal notice stated.

Despite this statutory protection, the makers of the film exploited his work without paying any royalty, said Ilaiyaraaja in the notice.

Thereby, the makers of the film violated sections 51 (copyright infringement), 57 (moral rights of author), and 63 (penalty for willful infringement) of the Copyright Act, 1957, read the notice.

Hence, Ilaiyaraaja demanded that the makers of the film immediately remove the altered version of his musical works from the film abstain from further usage or distribution of his musical works, tender unconditional apology for unauthorised usage of his works, and also pay Rs 5 crore towards the unpaid royalty and damages caused.

Ilaiyaraaja also sought the detailed account of revenue earned from the commercial exploitation of his songs.

If the makers of the film fail to comply with the demands mentioned in the legal notice within seven days, they will face legal actions under the law, added Ilaiyaraaja.

Also Read: Good Bad Ugly review: For Ajith fans by an Ajith fan