The Delhi High Court has ruled that composer AR Rahman and the makers of Ponniyin Selvan 2 must deposit ₹2 crore after a copyright lawsuit was filed over the song “Veera Raja Veera.”
Justice Prathiba M. Singh, in an interim order on April 25, observed that “Veera Raja Veera” was “not just inspired but identical” in musical notes, emotion, and impact to the classical composition “Shiv Stuti” by the Junior Dagar Brothers — Late Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar and Late Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar.
The court ruled:
- Credit must now be given to the Junior Dagar Brothers on all OTT and online versions of the film.
- ₹2 lakh is to be paid to the family of the original artists as legal costs.
- The ₹2 crore deposit will remain in a fixed deposit pending final judgment.
The lawsuit was filed by Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, who claimed ownership of all original compositions of the Junior Dagar Brothers, including Shiv Stuti. The court agreed that the defendants’ song infringed his copyright, noting that while Rahman added modern elements, the basic underlying musical work remained identical.
The court also said that without immediate relief, “irreparable injury” would be caused to the late composers’ creative and moral rights.
