The Malayalam film ‘
Manjummel Boys
‘ which was released in theatres this February has been running in theatres successfully and the movie became a countrywide success especially in Tamil Nadu. The film broke records at the box office this year and it was critically acclaimed. The movie had used parts of an old Tamil song and
Ilaiyaraaja
had recently filed a case against the producer of the film claiming rights to his song.
The music composer filed a legal notice claiming copyright violation on May 22 for using his song ‘
Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan
‘ from the film ‘
Guna
‘. The song was used in the climax of the survival drama and it also appeared in the introduction card. Now, responding to the legal notice filed by Ilaiyaraaja, ‘Manjumel Boys’ producer
Shawn Antony
told The News Minute that they had already acquired the rights to use the music composed by Ilaiyaraaja from the two music companies that own the song.
Shawn Antonu also revealed that apart from the Tamil language, they have also required rights from the concerned music company to use the song in all other languages it was composed so as to use the song in the film. Though the producers have explained that they have sought permission to use the song, Ilaiyaraaja has claimed that he is the first owner of all his original musical works and holds absolute rights. The music composer stressed that ‘Manjummel Boys’ did not even inform him earlier or seek permission to use the song in the film and added that the credit expressed in the title card cannot be substituted for it.
It is not the first time Ilaiyaraaja has claimed rights for the song he has composed. The music composer has filed multiple cases over the years and the verdict from the court has been that as long as the producers of the film do not have issues, the movie’s can continue to have the music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The court order stresses that the composer is not the sole owner and it has other components as well to be considered and the final say is with the producer of the film.
Directed by
Chidambaram
, ‘Manjummel Boys’ is a survival thriller and the story of the film is based on the real events that happened in Guna caves in Kodaikanal in 2006.