In a closely watched copyright tussle, the Madras High Court on Thursday directed Sony Music Entertainment to file a detailed account of the money it earns each day from broadcasting or telecasting songs composed by maestro Dr. Ilaiyaraaja. Justice N. Senthilkumar gave the order after a heated hearing where both sides traded sharp arguments over who truly owns the legendary composer’s vast catalogue.
Read also: Adani Reaches Understanding, Delhi High Court Drops Newslaundry and Ravish Kumar Pleas
Background
Ilaiyaraaja, whose music has shaped Tamil cinema for decades, told the court he has written more than 7,500 songs entirely on his own creative steam. “These compositions are born from my autonomy, not at a producer’s command,” his senior counsel Prabakaran said. The petition seeks a declaration that Sony Music has no legal right or title over his works and an injunction to stop the company from telecasting or remixing them.
Sony, however, claims a long chain of valid assignments. Their lawyer Vijay Narayan recounted how rights were first sold by Echo Recording to Oriental Records and later to Sony. According to him, “Before the 2012 amendment to the Copyright Act, producers automatically became owners after paying the composer.”
Read also: Separate Divorce Cases by Spouses Cannot Be Treated as Mutual Consent Petition, Rules Delhi HC
Court’s Observations
Justice Senthilkumar signalled that ownership questions can’t be settled in haste. “The facts could be decided only when the defendant files their detailed counter,” the judge remarked, noting that even a single distortion of a song doesn’t automatically trigger damages unless it harms the composer’s reputation. The bench also pointed to an earlier Bombay High Court suit and wondered whether film producers-key parties in such contracts-had been included in earlier cases.
Ilaiyaraaja’s counsel pressed that Sony was “adding beats and remixing the classics, which is nothing short of mutilation,” invoking Section 38B of the Copyright Act that protects an author’s moral rights even after assignment. Sony’s side countered there was “no urgency” and that the composer cannot re-litigate issues already pending elsewhere.
Read also: Supreme Court Upholds Rajasthan’s Tax Exemption for Fly-Ash Asbestos Units
Decision
Concluding the day’s arguments, the court declined any immediate injunction but ordered Sony Music to “furnish the day-to-day revenue collected by broadcasting or telecasting of plaintiff’s songs or movies till 22nd October.” The matter is now slated for a detailed hearing on October 22, when the company’s financial disclosures and the question of producer agreements will take center stage.
Case: Dr. Ilaiyaraaja vs. Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd. & Others
Petitioner’s Claim: Ilaiyaraaja asserts exclusive rights over his compositions and seeks to stop Sony from broadcasting or remixing his songs.
Respondent’s Stand: Sony Music cites a chain of prior assignments, arguing producers became owners before the 2012 Copyright Act amendment.
Current Order: 22 October 2025.