The Delhi High Court ruled in favour of Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, stating AR Rahman’s song Veera Raja Veera closely resembles Dagar’s Shiva Stuti. Rahman and Madras Talkies were ordered to pay Rs 2 crore and update the song credits. Read on!
On April 26, the Delhi High Court passed an interim order against Oscar-winning music director AR Rahman in a suit filed by renowned classical vocalist Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar. The case revolves around the popular track Veera Raja Veera from the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan 2, which Dagar alleges was copied from Shiva Stuti, a composition by his late father and uncle.
Delhi HC gives verdict on AR Rahman-Dagar case
Justice Prathiba M Singh, presiding over the case, observed that the impugned song is “exactly identical” to Shiva Stuti, barring minor lyrical modifications. The court concluded that the song’s musical structure, rhythm, and beat bore a striking resemblance to the original, thus qualifying as copyright infringement.
The court has directed AR Rahman and the film’s production house, Madras Talkies, to deposit Rs 2 crore with the court registry. Additionally, they are required to pay Rs 2 lakh in costs to the Dagar family.
Furthermore, the court ordered that the song’s credits be corrected across all platforms, including OTT and digital media. The court also stated, “In place of the existing slide, a new slide will be made on all OTTs and online platforms in respect of the impugned song affecting the credits,” the high court said. The new one would say, “composition based on Shiva Stuti by late Ustad N Faiyazuddin Dagar and late Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar.”
Justice Singh also emphasised the importance of protecting Indian classical compositions under the Copyright Act. “So long as the composition in the Hindustani classical music is an original work of the composer, the same would be entitled to protection under the Copyright Act. The composer would also be entitled to exercise all rights under the rights,” she said.