Latest news with #FaiyazWasifuddinDagar
Mint
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
AR Rahman to pay ₹2 crore for copyright infringement in Veera Raja Veera: Delhi HC
Music composer AR Rahman and the makers of Ponniyin Selvan 2 have been directed by the Delhi High Court to deposit ₹ 2 crore in connection with a copyright lawsuit over the Junior Dagar brothers' classical rendition of Shiv Stuti. In 2023, singer Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar moved court against Rahman and the production company Madras Talkies in the matter. In an interim order passed on April 25, Justice Prathiba M Singh observed that from a listener's perspective, Rahman's song Veera Raja Veera was "not just inspired but is, in fact, identical" to Shiva Stuti. Acknowledging the contribution of the late Junior Dagar Brothers, the court also ordered the film to include a special credit slide for all OTT and online platforms where the film is available. It also granted ₹ 2 lakh to their family in recognition of their work. "In the ultimate analysis, therefore, this court holds that the impugned song is not merely based on or inspired by the suit composition Shiva Stuti but is, in fact, identical to the suit composition with mere change in lyrics. The adding of other elements may have rendered the impugned song more like a modern composition but the basic underlying musical work is identical," the court said. Son of Faiyazuddin Dagar and nephew of Zahiruddin Dagar, Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar mentioned in their lawsuit that he held the copyright in all original compositions of Junior Dagar Brothers, including Shiv Stuti. He alleged that although Veera Raja Veera contains different lyrics, 'its taal, beat, and musical structure are identical' to Shiv Stuti. 'Hence the defendant's composition infringes the complainant's rights in Shiva Stuti. The defendants -- Mr Rahman, Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions -- shall deposit ₹ 2 crore with the court and the same shall be kept in a fixed deposit, subject to the final outcome of the lawsuit,' the HC also said as per a PTI report. Faiyaz sought a permanent injunction restraining Rahman and Madras Talkies, from using the song, damages, and the acknowledgement of moral rights.
Mint
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
AR Rahman to pay ₹2 crore for copyright infringement in Veera Raja Veera: Delhi HC
Music composer AR Rahman and the makers of Ponniyin Selvan 2 have been directed by the Delhi High Court to deposit ₹ 2 crore in connection with a copyright lawsuit over the Junior Dagar brothers' classical rendition of Shiv Stuti. In 2023, singer Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar moved court against Rahman and the production company Madras Talkies in the matter. In an interim order passed on April 25, Justice Prathiba M Singh observed that from a listener's perspective, Rahman's song Veera Raja Veera was "not just inspired but is, in fact, identical" to Shiva Stuti. Acknowledging the contribution of the late Junior Dagar Brothers, the court also ordered the film to include a special credit slide for all OTT and online platforms where the film is available. It also granted ₹ 2 lakh to their family in recognition of their work. "In the ultimate analysis, therefore, this court holds that the impugned song is not merely based on or inspired by the suit composition Shiva Stuti but is, in fact, identical to the suit composition with mere change in lyrics. The adding of other elements may have rendered the impugned song more like a modern composition but the basic underlying musical work is identical," the court said. Son of Faiyazuddin Dagar and nephew of Zahiruddin Dagar, Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar mentioned in their lawsuit that he held the copyright in all original compositions of Junior Dagar Brothers, including Shiv Stuti. He alleged that although Veera Raja Veera contains different lyrics, 'its taal, beat, and musical structure are identical' to Shiv Stuti. 'Hence the defendant's composition infringes the complainant's rights in Shiva Stuti. The defendants -- Mr Rahman, Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions -- shall deposit ₹ 2 crore with the court and the same shall be kept in a fixed deposit, subject to the final outcome of the lawsuit,' the HC also said as per a PTI report. Faiyaz sought a permanent injunction restraining Rahman and Madras Talkies, from using the song, damages, and the acknowledgement of moral rights. Reportedly, Rahman's counsel argued that Shiv Stuti belonged to the traditional Dhrupad genre, which is part of the public domain. Since its style of singing and composition lacked originality, they said that it could not be protected under copyright law. First Published: 26 Apr 2025, 05:08 PM IST
Deccan Herald
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Delhi HC directs A R Rahman, Ponniyin Selvan 2 makers to deposit Rs 2 cr in copyright case
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, the son of Faiyazuddin Dagar and nephew of Zahiruddin Dagar, contended in the lawsuit that he held the copyright in all original compositions of Junior Dagar Brothers, including 'Shiv Stuti', which the defendants had unlawfully infringed.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Delhi HC orders A R Rahman, Madras Talkies to deposit Rs 2 crore in copyright dispute over 'Veera Raja Veera'
Court directs immediate credit and compensation Live Events Arguments from Rahman's side Deep links between 'Shiva Stuti' and 'Veera Raja Veera' (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a significant interim order, the Delhi High Court has directed music composer A R Rahman and production house Madras Talkies to deposit ₹2 crore with the court, after finding that the song 'Veera Raja Veera' from Ponniyin Selvan 2 is "identical" to 'Shiva Stuti', originally composed by the late Junior Dagar Prathiba M Singh, presiding over the case, stated: "This court holds that the impugned song is not merely based on or inspired by the suit composition - Shiva Stuti - but is, in fact, identical to the suit composition with mere change in lyrics. The adding of other elements may have rendered the impugned song more like a modern composition, but the basic underlying musical work is identical."The order was passed in response to a lawsuit filed by Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar , the son and nephew of the original composers, Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad Nasir Zahiruddin High Court also directed that on all OTT and online platforms, the credit slide for the song must now clearly state, "Composition based on Shiva Stuti by Late Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar and Late Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar."In addition, ₹2 lakh has been awarded to the Dagar family as costs. Justice Singh noted that initially Rahman, who "has earned global acclaim", had not acknowledged the Dagar Brothers' contribution. It was only after Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar reached out that a reluctant acknowledgment was made. "Further correspondence ensued but there was no resolution," the court Singh pointed out that the plaintiffs had a strong prima facie case for copyright infringement. "If an interim order was not passed, irreparable injury would be caused to the creative rights and moral rights of the original composers who are no longer alive," the court and Madras Talkies, however, defended their position by arguing that 'Shiva Stuti' is rooted in the traditional Dhrupad genre of Hindustani classical music and therefore belongs to the public domain. Their counsel contended that since the manner of singing and the composition were not original creations but traditional, they could not attract copyright court rejected this argument. It underlined that Hindustani classical compositions, if original, are indeed protected under the Copyright Act. "The balance of convenience is thus in favour of the plaintiff as once the movie and song lose their audience by the time the trial is concluded, the plaintiff would have lost any possibility of effective acknowledgement," Justice Singh court emphasised that there was an intricate musical and emotional link between 'Shiva Stuti' and 'Veera Raja Veera'. It noted that even the singers of the impugned song were disciples of Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar. "These facts demonstrate the intricate link to the Shiva Stuti and Veera Raja Veera musical compositions," the court ₹2 crore deposit ordered by the court will remain in a fixed deposit, pending the final outcome of the Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, a renowned classical vocalist and Padma Shri awardee, initiated the lawsuit in 2023. In his plea, he sought not only financial compensation but also a permanent injunction to protect his family's moral and creative Junior Dagar Brothers, Nasir Faiyazuddin and Nasir Zahiruddin, were highly respected exponents of the Dhrupad tradition. Their 'Shiva Stuti' composition remains a significant contribution to Hindustani classical music. The case highlights broader concerns about respecting and crediting original classical compositions, even when they are adapted into modern works.
Scroll.in
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Delhi HC directs musician AR Rahman to deposit Rs 2 crore in copyright infringement case
The Delhi High Court on Friday directed musician AR Rahman and production company Madras Talkies to deposit Rs 2 crore with the registry and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on them in a copyright infringement case related to the song Veera Raja Veera from the film Ponniyin Selvan 2, reported The Hindu. In 2023, Indian classical vocalist and Padma Shri awardee Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar moved the court claiming that Veera Raja Veera was copied from the song Shiva Stuti, composed by his father Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and uncle Zahiruddin Dagar, who were collectively known as the Junior Dagar Brothers. The petition sought a permanent injunction restraining the defendants, including Rahman and Madras Talkies, from using the song, Bar and Bench reported. It also sought damages and the acknowledgement of moral rights. At the hearing on Friday, Justice Prathiba M Singh said that Veera Raja Veera was not merely based on or inspired by the composition of Shiva Stuti but was identical to it with a few changes, Live Law reported. In view of this, the court directed Rahman and Madras Talkies to deposit Rs 2 crore while the matter was being heard. In his petition, Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar claimed that the taal, beat and musical structure in Veera Raja Veera was identical to Shiv Stuti even though it contained different lyrics, Bar and Bench reported. Rahman, on the other hand, alleged that Shiv Stuti was a traditional composition within the Dhrupad genre in Hindustani classical music and was part of the public domain. Veera Raja Veera was also an original work, which was composed using Western musical fundamentals with 227 distinct layers, he contended.
