Ilaiyaraaja’s Legal Battle Over Music Rights Heats Up

Ilaiyaraaja appeared at the Chennai High Court today February 13th for a long running legal case over music rights. The dispute which began in 2010, involves Music Master, a company that claims rights to many of his film soundtracks.

According to Music Master, they signed an agreement in 1997 with a music label linked to Ilaiyaraaja’s wife, giving them audio rights for 109 films, including classics like Thevar Magan, Pandiyan, Bramma, and Gunna.

However, conflicts arose over ownership and distribution, especially with the rise of digital platforms like YouTube and streaming services.

Ilaiyaraaja’s legal team argued that the original agreement only covered audio rights and did not include digital distribution. The court had earlier asked for more details, leading to Ilaiyaraaja’s personal appearance today to provide testimony.

As one of India’s most respected composers, his legal battle has gained a lot of attention. The court will now decide if Music Master still has any claim to the rights or if Ilaiyaraaja regains full control over his music. More hearings are expected before a final verdict.

தேவர் மகன், குணா உள்ளிட்ட 109 பாடல்களின் உரிமை தொடர்பான வழக்குக்கில் உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் #ilayaraja ஆஜரானார்@ilaiyaraaja @SparkMedia_TN @rajakumaari @niranjan2428 @PramodMadhav6 pic.twitter.com/jKKg8Lfc8Y

— Nowshath A (@Nousa_journo) February 13, 2025