Music composer A.R. Rahman has informed the Supreme Court that he will acknowledge the ‘Shiva Stuti’ performance of the late Junior Dagar Brothers in the song “Veera Raja Veera” from the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan II.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi recorded the statement.
Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahman, submitted that his client had agreed to add an acknowledgment in the song credits. He clarified that this concession was made without prejudice to the issues pending in the copyright infringement suit.
Additional Credit Line
Rahman will include the following acknowledgment:
“Composition inspired from the Dagarwani tradition Dhrupad, first recorded as ‘Shiv Stuti’ by late Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar, popularly known as Junior Dagar Brothers.”
The Supreme Court directed that the updated credits must appear across all social media platforms and OTT services within five weeks.
Proceedings Before the Supreme Court
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar filed the petition challenging an order of the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court. The Division Bench had modified parts of an interim injunction granted earlier by a Single Judge.
During an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court noted that Rahman had already acknowledged drawing inspiration from the Dagarwani tradition. The Bench asked whether he could also acknowledge that the composition was first performed by the petitioner’s predecessors.
At the present hearing, Dr. Singhvi confirmed Rahman’s willingness to do so. He emphasized that the acknowledgment would not affect Rahman’s defence in the main suit.
Singhvi also objected to media reports suggesting that Rahman had suffered a legal setback. The Bench responded that it has no control over how the media reports court proceedings.
The Court clarified that the pending suit will proceed independently and without influence from these observations. It then disposed of the petition.
Background of the Dispute
The dispute concerns the alleged use of the classical Dhrupad composition “Shiva Stuti” in the film song “Veera Raja Veera.” Rahman composed the song for Ponniyin Selvan II, which released theatrically on April 28, 2023.
Dagar claims that protectable elements of “Shiva Stuti,” attributed to the late Junior Dagar Brothers, were used without authorization.
According to him:
- The composition was jointly created in the 1970s by Ustad Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar.
- It forms part of the Dagarvani tradition of Hindustani classical music.
- It was first recorded publicly in Amsterdam on June 22, 1978.
- The recording was later commercially released.
Dagar states that copyright and moral rights devolved upon him through a family settlement.
He further alleges that two of his disciples later shared the composition with Rahman without consent. According to the petitioner, the film song reproduces the essential melodic structure, swara patterns, rhythmic cycle, and emotive expression of “Shiva Stuti.” He claims this amounts to infringement of both copyright and moral rights.
Proceedings Before the Delhi High Court
In 2023, Dagar filed a commercial suit before the Delhi High Court seeking:
- Injunctions
- Recognition of moral rights
- Damages
- Proper attribution
On April 25, 2025, a Single Judge granted partial interim relief. The Court directed correction of credits, ordered a deposit of ₹2 crores as security, and imposed costs.
Rahman challenged this order before a Division Bench. He argued that the Single Judge had effectively granted final relief at the interim stage.
In September 2025, the Division Bench:
- Set aside the direction to deposit ₹2 crores
- Modified certain observations
- Clarified that issues of originality, authorship, and infringement would be decided at trial
Aggrieved by this modification, Dagar approached the Supreme Court.
