Trimurti Films Sues Dharma, Saregama In Bombay High Court Over 'Saat Samundar Paar' Song In Upcoming Film

Trimurti Films Pvt. Ltd., the producer of the 1992 film Vishwatma, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking to restrain the use of its iconic song “Saat Samundar Paar” in the upcoming Hindi film "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri", alleging unauthorised remixing and incorporation of the song without its consent. The suit has been filed against Dharma Production, Namah Pictures Private Limited, music label Saregama India Ltd., and rapper-music producer Aditya Prateek Singh, popularly known as Badshah. Saregama India Ltd. and Dharma Production tendered their replies on Friday before Justice Sharmila U Deshmukh, who has listed the matter on Monday, December 22, 2025, for further consideration on ad-interim reliefs. According to Trimurti Films, it became aware in early December 2025 that Saat Samundar Paar was being remixed and used in connection with the forthcoming film. The producer said promotional posts uploaded on Instagram accounts associated with the film's producers and Saregama featured the tune and audio of the song, with Badshah shown as the artist. Trimurti Films has stated that it is the producer and first owner of the copyright in the film Vishwatma and its sound recordings, including Saat Samundar Paar, as well as the underlying musical and literary works. The plea relies on a 1990 agreement entered into with the predecessor of Saregama India Ltd., under which only limited mechanical and audio rights were granted for the manufacture and sale of records and music cassettes. It has asserted that the agreement did not assign any rights to synchronise, adapt, remix, modify or incorporate the song or its underlying works into any cinematograph film or visual medium, and that all such rights continued to vest with Trimurti Films. “The Agreement did not confer any right upon Defendant No. 3 to create or authorize derivative works, including remixes or adaptations, nor to grant the song a new identity or context by embedding it in a new cinematograph film. Any such use amounts to unauthorized alteration, distortion and recontextualization of the original work, in violation of the Plaintiff's exclusive rights in the sound recording, the underlying works and their moral rights protected under the Copyright Act, 1957” the plea states. Trimurti Films has further alleged that no permission, licence or consent was sought for the use of the song and that no royalties or consideration were paid. The plea refers to correspondence exchanged in December 2025, in which the producers of the film claimed to have obtained a licence from Saregama India Ltd. After being provided with a copy of the 1990 agreement, Saregama is stated to have asserted exclusive rights in the song and called upon Trimurti Films to withdraw its claims. Describing the song as iconic, the plea states that “Saat Samundar Paar” is “exclusively associated in the public mind with the Plaintiff” and alleges that the defendants have sought to “unfairly freeride on the immense goodwill and reputation attached to the said work in order to make unlawful commercial gains in connection with the Impugned Film.” Trimurti Films has sought interim and permanent injunctions restraining the further use, release, exhibition or exploitation of the film to the extent it incorporates the song. It has also sought damages of Rs 10 crore, or in the alternative, a direction for rendition of accounts of profits arising from the alleged unauthorised use.Case Title: Trimurti Films Pvt Ltd v. Dharma Production Private Limited Case Number: IA(L)/41013/2025 in COMIP(L)/40870/2025For Plaintiff: Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dhond with Advocates Hiren Kamod, V Mohini, Aarti Aggarwal, Karan Khiani and Rohan Lopes for Trimurti Films. For Defendants: Senior Advocate Birendra Saraf for Dharma; Senior Advocate Veerendra Tulzapurkar for Saregama.

Trimurti Films Sues Dharma, Saregama In Bombay High Court Over 'Saat Samundar Paar' Song In Upcoming Film

Ayushi Shukla

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