The team behind the Malayalam blockbuster "Manjummel Boys" has reportedly settled a compensation claim with legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja for the unauthorised use of his song "Kanmani Anbodu" from the 1991 film "Guna."
According to sources, Ilaiyaraaja initially demanded Rs 2 crore, given the film's success. However, after discussions, the settlement amount was agreed upon at Rs 60 lakh.
Earlier reports indicated that Ilaiyaraaja had issued a legal notice to the makers of "Manjummel Boys," alleging that the song was used without his authorisation. The song "Kanmani Anbodu" was prominently featured at both the beginning and a crucial point near the climax of the film, receiving widespread acclaim and contributing significantly to the movie's popularity.
The legal notice, sent through Ilaiyaraaja's counsel, emphasized that he retains absolute rights over all his original compositions. While the "Manjummel Boys" team acknowledged Ilaiyaraaja's authorship in the film's credits, the notice clarified that such acknowledgment does not substitute for obtaining the composer’s explicit permission, license, or consent for usage, reported The Indian Express.
Ilaiyaraaja asserted that his rights are protected under the Copyrights Act of 1957, and the commercial exploitation of his work without proper authorisation and royalty payment constitutes a legal violation.
This incident is not isolated, as Ilaiyaraaja has previously taken legal action to protect his intellectual property. Notably, he had also issued a copyright notice to the makers of Rajinikanth’s upcoming film "Coolie," directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, for using his music in a promotional video without prior approval.