The Madras High Court has recently stated that music composer Ilaiyaraaja cannot claim himself as the sole creator of a song since, without lyrics, there is nothing in the song. This statement has been passed regarding the rights dispute over film songs between a private recording company, Echo, and the ace music composer.
Justice R. said that there are no songs without lyrics. Therefore, the songwriter can also claim. A bench comprising Justice Mahadevan and Justice Muhammad Sadiq observed. The court was hearing an appeal filed by music company Echo in a case related to the copyright of around 4500 songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
According to reports, Echo bought the copyright of the songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja from the filmmakers. The High Court considered the petition against this, and a single bench ruled that Ilaiyaraaja has the right to the songs.
The company filed an appeal against the High Court single bench verdict. The company’s lawyer argued that once the producer appoints a music director to compose music for the songs in the film, the producer gets the rights to the songs.
Ilaiyaraaja has the right only to the melody. The company’s lawyer also added that a song is a combination of lyrics, voice, and instruments.
However, Ilaiyaraaja’s lawyer argued that the right belongs to the person who gave the melody to the music.
The court observed that while Ilaiyaraaja has the right over the melody, the full right over the song is not the only one, and asked whether there is a song without lyrics.
The court said the petition should be heard in detail and will consider it again in the second week of June. When hearing this case a week ago, the same bench declared that Ilaiyaraaja should not be considered above everyone else in music.
Ilaiyaraaja is one of the earliest Indian film composers to use Western classical music harmonies and string arrangements in Indian film music and the first South Asian to compose a full symphony.
He has composed over 7,000 songs and provided film scores for over 1,000 films, apart from performing in over 20,000 concerts. He is nicknamed ‘Isaignani’ and often referred to as ‘Maestro,’ the title conferred by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London.
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