Music composer Ilaiyaraaja has issued a legal notice to Mythri Movie Makers, producers of Ajith Kumar’s Good Bad Ugly (2025), for allegedly using his songs without obtaining permission or paying royalties. The maestro has demanded Rs 5 crore in damages through a notice dated April 11.
Good Bad Ugly, which hit the screens on April 10, features altered versions of three of Ilaiyaraaja’s compositions — ‘Otha Ruba Tharen’ from Nattupura Pattu (1996), ‘Ilamai Idho Idho’ from Sakalakala Vallavan (1982), and ‘En Jodi Manja Kuruvi’ from Vikram (1986).
Citing the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, Ilaiyaraaja has claimed damages under Sections 19(9) and 19(10), which grant composers the right to receive royalties for their work, even if it was created for a film. He also cited Section 57, which protects the moral rights of composers and allows them to object to its distortion; Section 51, which pertains to copyright infringement; and Section 63, which deals with criminal penalties for willful violations.
In addition to the ₹5 crore compensation, Ilaiyaraaja has demanded that Mythri Movie Makers founders Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar immediately remove the three songs from the film. He has also sought a written apology along with a full disclosure of the revenue earned from using his compositions.
The notice also states that if the demands are not met within seven days of receipt, legal action will be initiated.
This is not the first time Ilaiyaraaja has taken legal action over copyright infringement. Earlier, in 2024, he sent a notice to the team of Malayalam film Manjummel Boys for using his song ‘Kanmani Anbodu’ from Gunaa (1991), seeking Rs 2 crore in compensation. That same year, he also sued the makers of director Lokesh Kanakaraj’s upcoming Rajini-starrer Coolie, for using his song ‘Va Va Pakkam Va’ from Thanga Magan (1983), in the film’s promotional video.