A.R. Rahman Gets Relief: Delhi High Court Cancels Interim Order in 'Ponniyin Selvan-1' Copyright Dispute

In a significant development for the acclaimed music maestro A.R. Rahman, the Delhi High Court has lifted an interim injunction that previously restrained him in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The legal battle centered on the song "Veera Raja Veera" from Mani Ratnam's magnum opus, 'Ponniyin Selvan-1'.

The dispute was initiated by Thiru Palani, a Tamil writer and composer, who alleged that A.R.

Rahman's composition for 'PS-1' infringed upon his original work, also titled "Veera Raja." Palani's claim suggested that elements of Rahman's song were directly inspired by or copied from his pre-existing work. Initially, a single judge bench of the High Court had granted an ex-parte interim injunction on May 3, which temporarily halted certain uses of Rahman's song, creating a ripple of concern among fans and the film's creators.

However, Rahman swiftly moved to challenge this temporary order, filing an appeal against the injunction.

A division bench of the Delhi High Court, after careful consideration of the arguments presented by both parties, has now delivered a verdict in favor of the Oscar-winning composer. The bench concluded that there was insufficient grounds to maintain the interim injunction against Rahman.

While acknowledging that the phrase "Veera Raja Veera" appears in both compositions, the court's division bench pointed out that this similarity alone was not enough to warrant a prohibitory order at such an early stage of the litigation.

The judges emphasized that the overall musical arrangement, lyrical structure, and thematic presentation of Rahman's "Veera Raja Veera" were distinct from Palani's work. Furthermore, the court noted that "Veera Raja" is a historical phrase and a common reference in Tamil literature and history, not an exclusive creation of the plaintiff, thus diminishing the claim of outright originality and infringement on that specific term.

This decision means that A.R.

Rahman and the creators of 'Ponniyin Selvan-1' are now free to continue using the song "Veera Raja Veera" without the legal restrictions imposed by the earlier interim order. While the main copyright infringement lawsuit will still proceed, the cancellation of the injunction provides considerable relief to Rahman, allowing the song to be utilized fully as intended.

This ruling underscores the nuanced nature of copyright law, especially concerning common cultural phrases and the distinction between inspiration and infringement in musical compositions.