Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Rejects Ilaiyaraaja’s Appeal in Song Copyright Dispute
This case is about who owns different parts of a song.
The song is called “En Iniya Pon Nilave” and is from the film “Moodu Pani”.
A production house used a new version of the song in a film.
It said it had received permission from composer Ilaiyaraaja.
Saregama objected and said it had received the song’s rights from the original producer.
The Delhi High Court said Ilaiyaraaja owned rights only to the tune.
It said he did not own the lyrics or the original recording.
Ilaiyaraaja challenged that decision in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court chose not to change the High Court’s ruling.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere with a Delhi High Court ruling favoring music label Saregama.
The dispute concerns “En Iniya Pon Nilave” from the Tamil film “Moodu Pani”.
The case arose after a production house used a recreated version of the song, claiming it had a licence from Ilaiyaraaja.
The Delhi High Court ruled that Ilaiyaraaja retained rights only to the song’s musical component, or tune.
The court held that Ilaiyaraaja did not hold copyright over the lyrics or sound recording, while Saregama claimed rights through an assignment from the original producer.
- Who
- Music composer Ilaiyaraaja, music label Saregama, the Delhi High Court, and a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran.
- What
- The Supreme Court refused to entertain Ilaiyaraaja’s appeal against a ruling that he did not hold copyright over the song’s lyrics and sound recording.
- When
- The Supreme Court decision was reported on Thursday, October 1; the High Court issued its relevant rulings on May 21 and May 26.
- Where
- The proceedings involved the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court in New Delhi.
- Why
- The dispute followed the use of a recreated version of the song by a production house claiming it had a licence from Ilaiyaraaja, while Saregama claimed rights from the original producer.
Ilaiyaraaja’s Position
Saregama’s Position
Permission to use the song
Ilaiyaraaja’s Position
Ilaiyaraaja was identified as the composer from whom the production house claimed to have obtained a licence for the recreated version.
Saregama’s Position
Saregama objected to the use and said it held the song’s rights through an assignment from the original producer.
Scope of copyright
Ilaiyaraaja’s Position
Ilaiyaraaja challenged the High Court’s determination of which parts of the song were protected by his copyright.
Saregama’s Position
The High Court ruled that Ilaiyaraaja retained rights only over the tune, not the lyrics or sound recording.
- Song
- “En Iniya Pon Nilave”
- Film
- “Moodu Pani”
- Composer
- Ilaiyaraaja
- Music label
- Saregama
- High Court ruling
- Ilaiyaraaja retained rights in the tune, but not the lyrics or sound recording.
- Supreme Court action
- Refused to entertain Ilaiyaraaja’s appeal.
- Saregama’s claim
- Saregama said the original producer of “Moodu Pani” assigned the song’s rights to it.
