Music Composer Ilaiyaraaja Sends Legal Notice To Makers Of Tamil Film 'Good Bad Ugly', Seeks ₹5 Crore For Use Of His Songs

Legendary music composer Ilaiyaraaja has sent a legal notice to Mythri Movie Makers against the unauthorized use of his musical works in the new Ajith starrer movie "Good Bad Ugly".

In the legal notice sent through his counsels Maths Law Associates, Ilaiyaraaja said that the songs "Otha Rubayum Tharen" from the movie "Nattupura Pattu", the song "Ilamai Idho Ido" from the movie "Sakalakala Vallavan", and the song "En Jodi Manja Kuruvi" from the movie "Vikram" had been used in the Ajith movie without obtaining express consent or permission from him and without paying royalties to which he is statutorily entitled. He thus claimed that the action constituted unauthorised use, appropriation, and a clear infringement of his copyright and moral rights. It was argued that Ilayaraja had not accorded any permission or consent, either express or implied, for using, altering, distorting, or changing the form of the songs to be used in the new movie. 

Relying on Section 19(9) and Section 19(10) of the Copyright Act, Ilayaraja claimed that as the composer of the songs, he was entitled to receive royalties for their use across any medium. However, despite the statutory protection, his works were violated. Ilayaraja thus contended that there was an infringement of Section 51 of the Copyright Act and that he was fully entitled to pursue remedies, including an injunction against further use or distribution of infringing content, statutory damages and recovery of unpaid royalties, criminal prosecution for wilful infringement under Section 63 and legal action for violation of moral rights under Section 57. 

He thus called upon the production company to pay Rs. 5 Crore toward unpaid royalties, damages, and legal costs. He has also asked the company to immediately cease and desist from further use, distribution, or communication of his work and to remove the altered version of the songs. He has also asked the company to tender an unconditional written apology for unauthorized use and alteration of his musical works, provide a detailed account of revenue earned from the commercial exploitation of the work, and provide the details of the amount paid as royalty or license fee, if any. 

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