AR Rahman's Legal Team Issues Clarification on 'Veera Raja Veera' Credits After Supreme Court Proceedings
In a significant development following recent Supreme Court proceedings, music director AR Rahman's legal representative has issued a detailed clarification regarding the credits for the song 'Veera Raja Veera' from the acclaimed film 'Ponniyin Selvan II'. This comes after reports suggested Rahman had expressed willingness to credit the late Ustad M Faiyazuddin Dagar and his nephew in the composition.
Legal Statement Denies Authorship Claims
Advocate Narmadha Sampath, representing AR Rahman, released an official statement to media outlets categorically denying the claims of authorship by the junior Dagar Brothers over the composition of 'Shiva Stuti'. The statement explicitly disputes allegations of copyright infringement that have been central to this ongoing legal battle.
The legal position remains firm that these denials and disputes, as previously upheld by the division bench of the Delhi High Court, continue to stand completely unaffected by any clarifications presented before the Supreme Court regarding credits.
Supreme Court Proceedings and Resolution
The Supreme Court recently disposed of the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, who had challenged the judgment delivered by the division bench of the Delhi High Court. Importantly, the apex court chose not to interfere with the Delhi High Court's judgment and refrained from expressing any opinion on the substantive merits of the dispute itself.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court encouraged both parties to explore possibilities for an amicable resolution. In this context, it was indicated that the existing credit accompanying the composition—which already acknowledged the Dagarvani Dhrupad tradition across all platforms—would be supplemented with additional information.
Credit Clarification Details
The proposed supplementary credit would specifically state that the junior Dagar Brothers were the first to record the composition 'Shiva Stuti'. It is crucial to note that the acknowledgement of the Dagarvani tradition was a pre-existing and voluntary credit that had been reflected well before any legal proceedings were initiated.
This credit existed independently of any interim orders passed in the ongoing suit, demonstrating Rahman's prior recognition of the musical tradition without conceding to the authorship claims being made in the current dispute.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The suit proceedings remain pending before the Delhi High Court, where the fundamental questions of authorship and copyright infringement continue to be contested. The legal team maintains that:
- Claims of authorship by the junior Dagar Brothers over the composition are denied
- Allegations of copyright infringement are disputed
- The positions upheld by the Delhi High Court division bench remain fully intact
- These positions are unaffected by the credit clarification presented to the Supreme Court
All critical questions relating to authorship, originality, and alleged infringement remain open and unresolved until proven conclusively in court. These matters will ultimately be determined strictly in accordance with applicable laws through the proper judicial process.
The clarification emphasizes that while credits may be adjusted to acknowledge recording history, this does not constitute an admission of authorship claims or copyright infringement, with the core legal dispute continuing through established judicial channels.
