Recently, the Delhi High Court set aside the interim injunction against A R Rahman in the copyright dispute over the song Veera Raja Veera. The plaintiff, the Dagar family, had alleged that the song copied their Dhrupad composition Shiva Stuti. The Court found, however, that their evidence—largely stage performances—did not conclusively prove authorship of the specific composition.

In classical music, where oral tradition prevails, performance alone cannot establish copyright. The court clarified that the burden of proof rests entirely on the plaintiff, who failed to produce concrete evidence of authorship. The absence of contradictory material does not validate ownership claims. The court also noted that classical compositions are often rooted in traditional ragas and taals, which belong

See Full Page