Delhi High Court Stays Interim Order In Favour Of Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar In Copyright Infringement Suit Against AR Rahman

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed an interim injunction order granted in favour of veteran Indian classical singer Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar in his suit alleging copyright infringement of his “Shiva Stuti” composition by music composer A.R. Rahman and other producers in Tamil film Ponniyan Selvan 2 song "Veera Raja Veera.”A division bench comprising Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Ajay Digpaul stayed the interim order passed last month, after an appeal was preferred by AR Rahman. The single judge had ruled that the song 'Veera Raja Veera' is not merely based on or inspired from the song composition of 'Shiva Stuti' but is infact identical to it with certain changes.The single judge had ordered that new slides be added in the Veera Raja Veera song giving credits to the original composers of the song- Dagar's father Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and uncle Ustad N Zahiruddin Dagar.The Court had also directed the defendants to deposit Rs. 2 crores with the Registry and had also directed them to pay Rs. 2 lakh costs to Dagar.Today, the Bench directed Rahman to deposit Rs. 2 crore with the Registry, observing that the direction is only formal in nature. The matter will now be heard on May 23.Mr Saikrishna Rajagopal appeared for AR Rahman, the Appellant- along with Sneha Jain, Vivek Ayyagari, Akshat Agrawal, Kuber Mahajan.Dagar had sought to restrain Rahman and other producers from using the Shiva Stuti composition in the song, claiming that it is the original and one of the first works of his father and uncle which was sung as back as in the 1970s. Dagar had alleged that the Veera Raja Veera song is based on the Shiva Stuti composition and that though the lyrics are different, the song's taal and beat are identical to the said composition. He further claimed that he has been vested with all the rights in the compositions of his father and uncle by way of an arrangement entered into with all the legal heirs. It was also Dagar's case that the Shiva Stuti composition was composed for the first time in 1970s and was performed in international concerts, including the one held at the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam in 1978.Title: A R Rahman v. Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar & Ors.Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 516

Delhi High Court Stays Interim Order In Favour Of Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar In Copyright Infringement Suit Against AR Rahman

Nupur Thapliyal

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