Delhi HC restrains Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting Saregama copyrighted works

Delhi HC prohibits Ilaiyaraaja from using Saregama's copyrighted works from 134 films, affirming the company's ownership rights.

The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order in favour of Saregama India Limited, restraining noted music composer Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting copyrighted works claimed by the label in 134 films dating back to 1976.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, while hearing a commercial suit filed by Saregama on February 13, noted that prima facie a “strong case” was made out in favour of the music company.

According to the company, the composer issued a legal notice on January 13, 2026, claiming rights over musical works composed and arranged by him for the films in question.

Saregama told the court that between 1976 and 2001, it entered into assignment agreements with producers of several cinematograph films. By virtue of these agreements, it claimed ownership of the copyrights on the sound recordings as well as the underlying musical and literary works of songs forming part of those films.

The company alleged that in the first week of February 2026, it came across the infringing use of the copyrighted works by Mr. Ilaiyaraaja by uploading the same on various platforms such as Amazon music, iTunes, and Jio Saavan. It also alleged that Mr. Ilaiyaraaja had made ownership claims over the content.

The court took note of earlier Supreme Court’s ruling, which held that where a composer creates music for a film for consideration, the producer becomes the first owner of the copyright unless there is a contract to the contrary.