CHENNAI: Veteran music composer Ilaiyaraaja has approached the Madras High Court, alleging unauthorized use of his songs in the Tamil film Dude. The composer claims that two of his songs were used in the film without obtaining proper authorization or consent.
The legal action is directed against Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd., Echo Recording Company Pvt. Ltd., and Oriental Records. Ilaiyaraaja alleges that these companies have commercially exploited his musical works, infringing upon his copyright and moral rights.
During a hearing before Justice N. Senthilkumar, Ilaiyaraaja's counsel, S. Prabakaran, stated that two of the composer's songs were used without permission in Dude, which has reportedly grossed over ₹75 crore within three days of its release. The specific songs in question are "Oththa Roova" from the 1996 film Nattupura Pattu and "Ilamai Idho Idho" from the 1982 film Sakalakala Vallavan.
This is not the first time Ilaiyaraaja has pursued legal action against filmmakers for allegedly using his intellectual property without approval. Earlier this year, he sued Mythri Movie Makers for the unauthorized use of his songs in the film Good Bad Ugly. In July 2025, Ilaiyaraaja also filed a copyright infringement case against the makers of the Tamil film Mrs & Mr for using his 1990 song "Siva Rathiri" without permission. Additionally, he sent a legal notice to the makers of Coolie (2025) for using the track "Va Va Pakkam Va" in its promotional video and demanded ₹5 crore in damages from Good Bad Ugly producers for remixing his compositions.
In the case against Good Bad Ugly, the court restrained Mythri Movie Makers from using his songs, leading to the film's temporary removal from Netflix. The songs were later replaced with background music.
Sony Music's counsel, Vijay Narayan, stated that the company has filed income statements and is prepared to file a reply. He also mentioned that the Supreme Court has ordered Sony Corporation to file a petition seeking the transfer of over 500 music copyright cases from the Bombay High Court to the Madras High Court. Justice Senthilkumar refused to accept revenue details in a sealed cover, citing the Supreme Court's stance against such practices.
The court has adjourned the hearing to November 27 for further proceedings. This legal battle highlights the ongoing debate over ownership and royalty rights in the music industry. In 2020, a Madras High Court order ruled that Indian Record Manufacturing Company (INRECO) held copyright to Ilaiyaraaja's works in 30 films from the 1980s, triggering further litigation. Ilaiyaraaja continues to challenge this order, asserting his moral rights as the creator of the music.
