Delhi High Court halts Rs 2 crore penalty against AR Rahman in copyright row

AR Rahman, the internationally acclaimed composer known for blending Indian classical music with contemporary sounds, has been a defining force in global cinema for over three decades. Recently, AR Rahman faced a controversy as a copyright complaint was filed against the composer for his music in Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan'. In a significant relief for Rahman, the Delhi High Court has temporarily stayed an earlier directive that ordered him and Madras Talkies to deposit Rs 2 crore over alleged copyright infringement in the 'Ponniyin Selvan 2' song “Veera Raja Veera.” The stay was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Hari Shankar, following Rahman’s appeal to overturn the penalty imposed by a single-judge order.Petitioner alleges song is a copy of classical compositionThe copyright case was initiated by Fayaz Wasifuddin Dagar, who alleged that 'Veera Raja Veera' was a copy of 'Shiva Stuti,' a devotional piece composed by his father and relative. According to the petitioner, the song’s composition had been used in the film with only minimal modifications. Rahman’s team admitted the song was inspired by the classical piece but maintained that it was a fresh creation influenced by the original, not a direct reproduction.Single-Judge bench found strong similarities in the tunesHowever, the single-judge bench found that the similarities went beyond mere inspiration and suggested that the original composition had been reproduced with slight changes. Based on this view, the court directed Rahman and the production house to deposit ₹2 crore with the court registrar’s office as a precondition while the case continued.Next hearing set for May 23; Relief spurs industry debateAccording to News 18, the latest order from the division bench has put a temporary hold on this directive. The court has now scheduled a detailed hearing of the case for May 23. This development gives AR Rahman a breather in the high-profile legal battle, which has sparked wider conversations about copyright, classical music heritage, and artistic inspiration in Indian cinema.