Supreme Court declines to interfere with the Delhi High Court ruling on Ilaiyaraaja's copyright in a Tamil film song
1 October 2026
A Supreme Court bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran declined to interfere with a Delhi High Court ruling in a copyright dispute over the song 'En Iniya Pon Nilave' from the 1980 Tamil film Moodu Pani.
The Delhi High Court Division Bench, led by Justice C. Hari Shankar, had held in May 2026 that the composer Ilaiyaraaja's copyright is limited to the music of the song and does not extend to the lyrics or the sound recording.
Saregama India Limited claimed the rights through an assignment from the film's original producer, and opposed the use of a recreated version.
Ilaiyaraaja's counsel argued that the ruling undermined Section 13(4) of the Copyright Act, 1957, which preserves separate copyright in works underlying a cinematograph film or sound recording.
The Supreme Court found no legal error in the High Court's decision but clarified that the High Court's observations are prima facie and are not to operate as binding precedent.
The producers had paid the deposit of Rs 30 lakh ordered earlier by the Single Judge.
In plain words
Section 13(4) Section 13(4), Copyright Act, 1957 — It preserves a separate copyright in a work that is used in a cinematograph film or sound recording.
Assignment Assignment of copyright — A transfer of copyright from the owner to another person, in whole or in part.
Prima facie Prima facie — On the face of it; a tentative view taken without finally deciding the question.