In a significant development in the ongoing copyright litigation surrounding the song ‘Veera Raja Veera’ from Ponniyin Selvan 2, the Delhi High Court has stayed the interim injunction issued against acclaimed music composer AR Rahman.
The injunction had been granted on April 25 by a single-judge bench in a suit filed by Padma Shri awardee Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, who alleged that Rahman’s composition was substantially copied from Shiva Stuti, a piece created by his father Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and uncle Zahiruddin Dagar. Justice Prathiba M Singh had then directed Rahman and the producers to provide due credit to the Dagar brothers across all online platforms and imposed a deposit of ₹2 crore, along with ₹2 lakh in costs.
Challenging this order, Rahman approached the Division Bench comprising Justices C Hari Shankar and Ajay Digpaul, which on Tuesday stayed the injunction, costs, and credit directive until the next hearing scheduled for May 23.
“Since the song has been publicly available since 2023, and without commenting on the merits of the case, we stay the operation of the injunction granted by the learned single judge till the next date of hearing,” the Court stated.
However, the Bench directed Rahman and the producers to deposit ₹2 crore in compliance with the earlier order, clarifying that this was a procedural safeguard and not reflective of the case’s merits.
Dagar’s claim rests on the argument that while Veera Raja Veera has different lyrics, its rhythm, structure, and melodic elements mirror Shiva Stuti. Conversely, Rahman contends that Shiva Stuti is part of the public domain as a Dhrupad composition, and Veera Raja Veera is an independently created piece built using complex Western musical layering.
This case underscores the growing legal scrutiny in the music industry, particularly concerning traditional compositions and their reinterpretation in contemporary works.
