Delhi HC orders AR Rahman to pay ₹2 crore in ‘PS-2’ copyright case
The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order against music director AR Rahman in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by classical singer Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar. The order states that the song ‘Veera Raja Veera’ from the upcoming movie ‘Ponniyin Selvan-2’ is “identical” to Dagar’s ‘Shiva Stuti’. The court has directed Rahman and production company Madras Talkies to deposit ₹2 crore with the registry.
The lawsuit was filed by Dagar, a renowned classical singer, who claimed that the song ‘Veera Raja Veera’ from ‘PS-2’ was copied from his own composition ‘Shiva Stuti’. The song was composed by AR Rahman for the upcoming movie ‘PS-2’, which is a sequel to the 2022 film ‘Ponniyin Selvan’.
Dagar’s lawyer, Anubha Maheshwari, stated that the court’s interim order is a significant victory for her client. “The court has recognized that AR Rahman’s song is a blatant copy of my client’s composition. The court’s order is a strong message to the music industry that copyright infringement will not be tolerated,” she said.
The court’s order comes as a major setback for AR Rahman, who has been accused of copyright infringement multiple times in the past. In 2020, he was sued by a Pakistani music composer for allegedly copying his song without permission. However, the court ultimately dismissed the lawsuit, citing lack of evidence.
The ‘PS-2’ copyright case is not the first instance of AR Rahman being accused of copyright infringement. In 2018, he was sued by a music composer for allegedly copying his song without permission. However, the court ultimately dismissed the lawsuit, citing lack of evidence.
The Delhi High Court’s interim order is likely to have significant implications for the music industry. The court’s recognition of copyright infringement sends a strong message to music creators that such actions will not be tolerated. It also highlights the importance of respecting the intellectual property rights of others and the need for music creators to be mindful of potential copyright infringement.
The court’s order is also likely to have implications for the ‘PS-2’ movie. The movie, which is scheduled to release later this year, has been highly anticipated by fans of the franchise. However, the court’s order may raise questions about the authenticity of the song and the credibility of AR Rahman as a music composer.
In conclusion, the Delhi High Court’s interim order in the ‘PS-2’ copyright case is a significant victory for classical singer Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar. The order recognizes the alleged copyright infringement and directs AR Rahman and Madras Talkies to deposit ₹2 crore with the registry. The court’s order sends a strong message to the music industry that copyright infringement will not be tolerated and highlights the importance of respecting the intellectual property rights of others.
