The Supreme Court of India has deferred to next Friday a keenly watched case pitting legendary Dhrupad singer Ustad Fayyaz Wasifuddin Dagar against music maestro AR Rahman. At stake is the ‘Veera Raja Veera’ track from Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan 2, accused of infringing on a proprietary rhythm from the Dagar family repertoire.
Dagar’s legal team emphasized that the song replicates the beat of their ancestral ‘Shiv Stuti,’ crafted by his father Nasir and uncle Zahiruddin. They highlighted the family’s innovation of Sooltal—a rare taal absent from mainstream traditions rooted in Khusro’s Chautaal—insisting this constitutes clear violation despite altered lyrics.
Presiding Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s bench praised the Dagars’ role in preserving and advancing classical music at elite levels. ‘Without their contributions, would modern artists survive in the market?’ he probed rhetorically, while recognizing Rahman’s iconic status. Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi for Rahman requested the postponement, which was granted.
The saga began last year with a Madras High Court directive for Rahman to acknowledge the beat’s origins and pay Rs 2 crore into court. That ruling was swiftly reversed by a larger bench skeptical of evidence linking the composition solely to the Dagars. Now elevated to the apex court, the dispute raises broader questions on protecting folk and classical innovations in commercial cinema.
Music enthusiasts await the outcome, as it could redefine how Bollywood and South Indian industries credit and compensate traditional artists whose motifs inspire blockbuster hits.