The Madras High Court has issued a temporary injunction against Mythri Movie Makers, the producers of Ajith Kumar's recently released film 'Good Bad Ugly', preventing them from exhibiting, screening, distributing, or broadcasting the film with three songs originally composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Justice N Senthilkumar passed the ex parte order on Monday, September 8, 2025, while hearing a copyright infringement suit filed by Ilaiyaraaja earlier this year.

Ilaiyaraaja alleged that the film used his songs "Otha Rubayum Tharen" (from 'Nattupura Pattu', 1996), "Ilamai Idho Idho" (from 'Sakalakala Vallavan', 1982), and "En Jodi Manja Kuruvi" (from 'Vikram', 1986) without his consent and without paying the royalties due to him. In his legal notice, Ilaiyaraaja sought the removal of the three tracks from the movie, compensation of ₹5 crore, a public apology from the producers, and a detailed account of revenues earned from the film.

The judge observed that the production house's reply to the composer's legal notice was "bald" and unsatisfactory. While the company claimed to have obtained permission to use the songs, it did not specify from whom such permission was obtained or provide details of the authorization. In light of this, Justice Senthilkumar ruled that Ilaiyaraaja was entitled to a temporary injunction until further orders.

'Good Bad Ugly', directed by Adhik Ravichandran and featuring an ensemble cast including Ajith Kumar, Trisha, Sunil, Prabhu, Arjun Das, and Jackie Shroff, was released on April 10. The film reportedly grossed close to ₹100 crore in its first week.

The court's order places the producers in a position where they may have to secure proper rights, negotiate with the composer, or explore alternative options to comply with the injunction. For Ilaiyaraaja, who has been fiercely protective of his intellectual property in recent years, the development is being seen as another firm assertion of the rights of artists.

The specific details of the copyright infringement suit reveal that Ilaiyaraaja is claiming that the unauthorized use of his songs violates copyright law. His petition emphasizes that using songs without permission is against the law, and he is seeking appropriate compensation for the infringement. The legal action underscores the importance of obtaining proper permissions and paying due royalties to composers for the use of their work in films and other media.

This isn't the first time Ilaiyaraaja has taken a firm stance on the usage of his compositions. He has been known to grant permission for his songs to be used in certain films without royalty fees, but only when proper consent is obtained. The current legal battle highlights his unwavering commitment to protecting his intellectual property rights and ensuring that his work is not exploited without authorization.