The ongoing legal battle between veteran music composer Ilaiyaraaja and the makers of Ajith Kumar’s film Good Bad Ugly has culminated in the movie’s removal from Netflix India. A Madras High Court order, passed last week, restrained the film’s producers from using three of Ilaiyaraaja’s classic songs, leading to the streaming giant pulling the film from its platform. The movie, which was released on May 8 across five languages, is no longer accessible on the OTT platform.
When users now search for the film, they are met with a message that reads, “Oops, we haven’t got that. Try searching for another movie, show, actor, director, or genre.” This move by Netflix underscores the seriousness of the court’s verdict and the complex nature of music copyright in the Indian film industry.
The Copyright Controversy
The dispute originated in April when Ilaiyaraaja sent a legal notice to Mythri Movie Makers, the production company behind Good Bad Ugly, for allegedly using three of his songs without consent. The tracks in question are “Ottha Ruba Tharen” from Naattu Purapaatu (1996), “En Jodi Manja Kuruvi” from Vikram (1986), and “Ilamai Idho Idho” from Sakalakala Vallavan (1982). Ilaiyaraaja claimed that not only were the songs used without his permission, but they were also featured in a modified form.
The legendary composer demanded ₹5 crore in compensation and a public apology, escalating the matter to court when the producers failed to comply. Justice N Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court issued a temporary injunction, barring the producers from “exhibiting, screening, distributing, selling, publishing, or broadcasting” the film with the disputed songs on any platform. The court observed that the production house’s claim of having secured the necessary rights was “bald” and lacked a clear explanation of who granted them the rights to the songs.
Producers’ Stance and Broader Implications
Despite the court’s order, producer Yalamanchili Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers had previously told media that they had followed all protocols. “We have taken permission from all the music labels required for the songs we used in the film. The labels hold the rights, so we have followed protocol and taken NOCs from them,” he stated at the time. However, the court’s ruling suggests this claim was not substantiated with sufficient evidence.
This incident is not an isolated one for Ilaiyaraaja. The maestro has been at the forefront of the fight for copyright and creative ownership in recent years, having previously sent legal notices to the makers of films like Manjummel Boys and Coolie for the unauthorized use of his music. These repeated legal battles highlight a long-standing issue in the Indian film industry where music rights, particularly those of older compositions, are often disputed. This case serves as a crucial reminder to filmmakers and producers about the importance of securing proper permissions and compensating creators, ensuring that copyright is respected and upheld.