Illaiyaraaja sues Rajinikanth Coolie Producer

Sun Pictures faces a lawsuit filed by Music composer Illaiyaraaja for using the tune from the film Thanga Magan starring Rajinikanth and released in November 1983. The BGM was used by Anirudh for the upcoming Rajinikanth film Coolie directed by Lokesh Kanagraj and was used in the video released. Lyricist Vairamuthu at a public meeting said that the role of lyric writers in formation of a song was as important as a composer and quipped that it would be good if ganani understood this. Illaiyaraaja is called Isaignani by his fans. Vairamuthu comment was a vieled reference to the lawsuit filed by Illaiyaraaja on Echo Recording for not paying him the royalty for the songs that he composed. Sources say that the legal notice to Sun Pictures has asked the company to pay an adequate compensation for using the BGM and also make changes in the video and give Illaiyaraaja due importance. In short, the production company will have to release a revised version and shell out a hefty amount. The said Va Vaa Pakaam Vaa song sung by SPB and Vani Jayram and lyrics by Muthulingam. It was filmed with Poornima and Ravichandran taking part. Sources in Raaja camp say that the legal notice was necessary as said song too comes under the ambit of the ongoing case against Echo Recording. They inform us that Sun Pictures had bought the song rights from Sathya Movies and also the soundtrack. If it goes unchallenged, the current case over copyright would be weak for Illaiyaraaja points out source. Anirudh had announced that a full fledged cover version of the Disco song was in the way. In the court, during arguments, the Judge observed that if the same reason that music composer was owner of the song and not the Producer or the company that bought it, then even lyric writers too had a stake in it. On April 24, The Division bench ruled that the music composer alone was not the only owner of the song and lyricist – singer too had the same right. The court said that in June second week it would take up the petition in detail.