A.R. Rahman to Acknowledge Dagar Brothers' Inspiration in 'Ponniyin Selvan II' Song
In a significant development, legendary music composer A.R. Rahman has formally assured the Supreme Court of India that he will acknowledge the song "Veera Raja Veera" from the Tamil blockbuster film "Ponniyin Selvan II" as being inspired by the traditional composition "Shiva Stuti" associated with the family of classical vocalist Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar. This assurance came during a hearing on Friday, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal dispute over the song's credits.
Interim Agreement and Court Proceedings
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Rahman, informed the apex court that the composer has agreed to an interim arrangement. This arrangement involves acknowledging the performance of the late Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar, who are popularly known as the Junior Dagar Brothers. Singhvi emphasized that this concession was made "without prejudice" to Rahman's legal rights and contentions in the main civil suit, which is currently pending before the Delhi High Court.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, recorded this submission. The bench issued a clear directive: the modification in the song credits must be reflected across all social media and OTT platforms within a strict timeframe of five weeks. This order ensures that the acknowledgment reaches a wide audience promptly.
Supreme Court's Observations and Disposal of Petition
The CJI-led bench made it unequivocally clear that the civil suit will proceed independently on its own merits and will not be influenced by any observations made during these proceedings. With these crucial observations, the Supreme Court disposed of the special leave petition (SLP) filed by Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar. Dagar had challenged a Delhi High Court order that had set aside an earlier single-judge injunction against Rahman and other defendants involved in the case.
During an earlier hearing, the bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, had noted the unparalleled contribution of the Dagarvani tradition to Indian classical music. The court had suggested that some form of acknowledgment could be a constructive alternative to getting entangled in "legal niceties," highlighting the cultural significance of the issue beyond mere legal technicalities.
Background: Delhi High Court's Previous Ruling
This Supreme Court decision follows a judgment passed on September 24, 2025, by a division bench of the Delhi High Court, comprising Justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla. In that ruling, the High Court held that there was no prima facie material to establish that the Junior Dagar Brothers were the authors or composers of "Shiva Stuti." Consequently, the court vacated interim directions, which included an order for Rahman to deposit Rs 2 crore and to modify the song credits. This earlier decision had paved the way for the current Supreme Court proceedings, where the focus shifted towards achieving an amicable resolution through acknowledgment rather than prolonged litigation.
The case underscores the delicate balance between intellectual property rights and cultural heritage in the entertainment industry. It also reflects the judiciary's role in mediating disputes that involve deep-rooted artistic traditions and modern cinematic expressions. As the civil suit continues in the Delhi High Court, this interim acknowledgment by Rahman is seen as a step towards respecting the legacy of the Dagar family while allowing the legal process to unfold without prejudice.
