Superstar Ajith Kumar’s blockbuster film, Good Bad Ugly, has been abruptly removed from Netflix in India. This unexpected move comes barely ten days after the Madras High Court issued an order preventing the film’s production company, Mythri Movie Makers, from using legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja’s songs in the movie.
The decision sparked immediate disappointment among fans, who flocked to social media on September 17, 2025, to lament the unavailability of their favorite star’s film on the popular streaming service.
Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, Good Bad Ugly originally hit theaters on April 10, 2025. The film notably features three classic songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja: ‘Oththa Roova’ from Nattupura Pattu (1996), ‘Ilamai Idho Idho’ from the 1982 Kamal Haasan-starrer Sakalakala Vallavan, and ‘En Jodi Manja Kuruvi’ from Vikram (1986).
One fan shared on social media: “Netflix has stopped streaming Good Bad Ugly in India following copyright notice from Ilaiyaraaja.”
The legal trouble began when Ilaiyaraaja filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Mythri Movie Makers, asserting that the production house had not secured his permission to feature his compositions in their film. The music icon sought not only the immediate removal of his songs but also a substantial compensation of ₹5 crore. The Madras High Court subsequently issued an interim order in Ilaiyaraaja’s favor, particularly after the production house provided what was deemed an “unsatisfactory” response to the initial legal notice.
In their defense, Mythri Movie Makers claimed to possess the necessary authorization from the copyright owners. However, they failed to provide specific details regarding the individuals or firms from whom this authorization was obtained, or the precise nature of the permissions granted.
Interestingly, some social media users noted: “Streaming in NETFLIX US! #GoodBadUgly💥”. This indicates the film remains available on Netflix in other regions.
This isn’t an isolated incident for the celebrated composer, who has a history of pursuing legal action against the unauthorized use of his musical works. Previously, he issued a legal notice to Sun Pictures concerning the alleged unlawful use of a song from his 1983 film Thanga Magan in their upcoming Rajinikanth-starrer, Coolie. He also took legal action against the producers of the Malayalam movie Manjummel Boys for “illegally exploiting” the song ‘Kanmani Anbodu’ from the Tamil film Guna.
The future availability of Good Bad Ugly on Indian streaming platforms remains uncertain, leaving many fans hoping for a swift resolution to the copyright entanglement.