Ilaiyaraaja wins copyright battle against GV Prakash’s ‘Happy Raj’; Madras HC restricts use of ‘Pothuvaaga En Manasu Thangam’ song | Tamil Movie News
Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja has been very strong in protecting the ownership of his compositions, and this has led to many legal battles over the unauthorised use of his songs. The veteran composer has never accepted that his compositions may be used without his prior consent, irrespective of the venture. The composer, Ilaiyaraaja, who has been pursuing this legal fight for quite some time now, won a major battle in court when the Madras High Court decided in his favor in a copyright lawsuit concerning the movie ‘Happy Raj.’
High Court rules in Ilaiyaraaja’s favour
The latest case was filed after Ilaiyaraaja alleged that his iconic song ‘Pothuvaaga En Manasu Thangam’ from Rajinikanth starrer ‘Murattu Kaalai,’ had been used in GV Prakash Kumar’s film ‘Happy Raj’ without obtaining his consent. After hearing the matter, the Madras High Court restrained the makers from using the song in the film, as reported by Polimer. The order came nearly three months after ‘Happy Raj’ was released in theatres on March 27, making it a significant legal development despite the film already completing its theatrical run. The judgment, one more victory for Ilaiyaraaja in his fight against the copyright violation of his musical creations, conveys a very definite message that due respect should be accorded to the creator.
‘Happy Raj’ features a strong ensemble cast
Directed by debutant Maria Raja Elanchezian, ‘Happy Raj’ stars GV Prakash Kumar along with Sri Gouri Priya. The movie also marks the return of actor Abbas after a long break from cinema. The supporting cast includes George Maryan, Geetha Kailasam, Prarthana, Madurai Muthu, Adhirchi Arun, Devi Mahesh, and more. The film was well received by the audiences on its release, and GV Prakash and the team travelled across Tamil Nadu to thank the fans during the successful theatrical run of the film.
An emotional story about love and acceptance
‘Happy Raj’ is the journey of a young man, Anandraj, fondly called Happy Raj (GV Prakash), who fights loneliness due to the social stigma attached to his family. He moves to Bengaluru for a fresh start. There he meets Kavya (Sri Gouri Priya) and slowly falls in love. The film blends romance with emotional drama, exploring themes of identity, dignity and acceptance. The court verdict has once again brought to the fore the issue surrounding the usage of Ilaiyaraaja’s popular song, adding another chapter to the composer’s copyright war, even as the viewers have welcomed ‘Happy Raj’ recently.
