Delhi HC restrains Ilaiyaraaja from using songs from 134 films, grants relief to Saregama
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In a significant setback for legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja, the Delhi High Court has restrained him from “exploiting or licensing” certain copyrighted musical works owned by Saregama India Limited.
The court passed the order while hearing a commercial suit filed by Saregama concerning musical compositions from as many as 134 films.
Granting an ex parte ad interim injunction, the High Court held that Saregama had made out a prima facie case and that continued exploitation of the works could result in “irreparable loss that may not be compensable monetarily.”
According to the music label, it owns the copyrights to several musical compositions across multiple Indian languages based on agreements entered into with film producers between 1976 and 2001. Saregama alleged that Ilaiyaraaja had been granting licences to third parties and uploading songs on digital platforms such as Amazon Music, iTunes, and JioSaavn since February 2026, while simultaneously claiming ownership over the works.
The label argued that under the Copyright Act, film producers are deemed the first owners of musical compositions unless a contract provides otherwise. It claimed that Ilaiyaraaja’s actions amounted to copyright infringement and created confusion regarding Saregama’s legal title over the sound recordings.
After examining the submissions, the High Court agreed that Saregama’s rights required interim protection. The court directed Ilaiyaraaja to file his written statement within 30 days and listed the matter for further hearing on April 2, 2026.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential film composers globally, Ilaiyaraaja has worked across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and other Indian languages. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, he has composed more than 8,600 songs for around 1,523 feature films. He is also known for his own legal actions against unauthorised use of his music in films and live performances, making the present order a notable turn in his long-running copyright battles.