Delhi HC restrains Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting Saregama copyrighted works

The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order in favour of Saregama India Limited, restraining noted music composer Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting copyrighted works claimed by the label in 134 films dating back to 1976.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, while hearing a commercial suit filed by Saregama on February 13, noted that prima facie a “strong case” was made out in favour of the music company.

According to the company, the composer issued a legal notice on January 13, 2026, claiming rights over musical works composed and arranged by him for the films in question.

Saregama told the court that between 1976 and 2001, it entered into assignment agreements with producers of several cinematograph films. By virtue of these agreements, it claimed ownership of the copyrights on the sound recordings as well as the underlying musical and literary works of songs forming part of those films.

The company alleged that in the first week of February 2026, it came across the infringing use of the copyrighted works by Mr. Ilaiyaraaja by uploading the same on various platforms such as Amazon music, iTunes, and Jio Saavan. It also alleged that Mr. Ilaiyaraaja had made ownership claims over the content.

The court took note of earlier Supreme Court’s ruling, which held that where a composer creates music for a film for consideration, the producer becomes the first owner of the copyright unless there is a contract to the contrary.

After perusing the various documents placed on record, the court said, “the irreparable loss and injury which may be caused to the plaintiff on account of the purported infringement by the defendant may not be adequately compensated in monetary terms in case ex-parte ad-interim injunction is not granted”.

The court restrained Mr. Ilaiyaraaja, his agents, and representatives from exploiting or issuing licences for the company’s copyrighted works i.e. the sound recordings and literary and musical works forming a part of the 134 films mentioned by the company in its plea.

The order covers an extensive list of 134 films, including well-known titles such as Annakkili (1976), 16 Vayathiniley (1977), Mullum Malarum (1978), Netrikkann (1981), and Raaja Paarvai (1981).