In a major development for acclaimed music composer A.R. Rahman, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, overturned a prior court order concerning an alleged copyright infringement related to his song ‘Veera Raja Veera,’ featured in the 2023 film Ponniyin Selvan 2.
A division bench comprising Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla delivered this decision following an appeal filed by Rahman. The court clarified that while the earlier order was set aside, the fundamental aspect of copyright infringement in the case was not yet definitively decided. Further details regarding the judgment are anticipated.
The legal proceedings originated from a lawsuit brought by classical vocalist and Padma Shri recipient, Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar. Dagar had accused Rahman, along with the film’s production houses – Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions – of unlawfully utilizing a classical composition. This composition, titled ‘Shiva Stuti,’ was originally created by the renowned Junior Dagar Brothers, Late Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar and Late Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar.
Previously, a single-judge bench had ruled that the ‘Veera Raja Veera’ song was not merely influenced by or inspired by the ‘Shiva Stuti’ composition, but was, in essence, identical to it, with only the lyrics being altered.
Dagar asserted that the ‘Shiva Stuti’ composition was a creation of his father and uncle in the 1970s. He claimed that after their respective demises in 1989 and 1994, the copyright to the composition was transferred to him through an oral family agreement among the legal heirs.
His core allegation was that the composition was shared with Rahman without his explicit knowledge or authorization, and subsequently incorporated into the film’s soundtrack without appropriate credit or consent, leading to the copyright infringement dispute.