Madras HC issues interim order restraining makers of Ajith Kumar’s Good Bad Ugly from using Ilaiyaraaja’s songs

While Good Bad Ugly's soundtrack was composed by GV Prakash Kumar, the makers used three songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja in altered form.

By: Entertainment Desk

Kochi | September 8, 2025 06:10 PM IST

While Good Bad Ugly's soundtrack was composed by GV Prakash Kumar, the makers used three songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja in altered form.

Dubbing the reply of Good Bad Ugly's producers as "bald", the Madras High Court granted the ex parte interim order in favour of Ilaiyaraaja. (Credit: Facebook/@Ilaiyaraaja, @MythriMovieMakers)

In a notable development in favour of legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja, the Madras High Court has issued an interim order prohibiting the makers of the 2025 Tamil action-comedy Good Bad Ugly from using three of his songs featured in the film, allegedly without his permission. As a result, Mythri Movie Makers, the producers of the movie, have been restrained from exhibiting, screening, selling, distributing, publishing, or broadcasting Good Bad Ugly and the Ilaiyaraaja songs on any platform, including OTT.

Justice N Senthilkumar granted the temporary injunction on Monday in a plea moved by the composer, Live Law reported. In his petition, Ilaiyaraaja argued that his blockbuster tracks “Otha Ruba Tharen” (Naattu Purapaatu, 1996), “Ilamai Idho Idho” (Sakalakala Vallavan, 1982), and “En Jodi Manja Kuruvi” (Vikram, 1986) were used by Mythri Movie Makers in Good Bad Ugly without obtaining his consent and without paying the royalties to which he was legally entitled. Maintaining that this constituted unauthorised use, appropriation, and an apparent infringement of his copyright and moral rights, he demanded that his entitlements as the composer of the songs be upheld.

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Soon after the release of Good Bad Ugly in April this year, Ilaiyaraaja had issued a legal notice to the makers, demanding the removal of the songs, compensation of Rs 5 crore, a public apology, and a detailed account of revenues. In response, the production house claimed that it had obtained the necessary authorisation from the apparent owners of the respective copyrights. However, the company failed to provide details regarding the individuals or firms from which the said authorisation had been obtained and their nature. Dubbing Mythri Movie Makers’ reply as “bald”, Justice Senthilkumar granted the ex parte interim order in favour of Ilaiyaraaja.

Helmed by Adhik Ravichandran, Good Bad Ugly featured Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, and Arjun Das in the lead roles. While its soundtrack was composed by GV Prakash Kumar, the makers used three aforementioned songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja in altered form, which the composer argued constituted commercial exploitation without proper compensation.

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