Madras High Court closes copyright case after ‘Dude’ movie makers agree to pay Rs 50 lakh to Ilaiyaraaja

“The terms thereof have been reduced to writing in joint memorandum of compromise dated 28.11.2025. The said document has been signed digitally by the plaintiff and by the defendant. The respective counsel have also signed,” the order said.

Underlining the settlement amount, the court was informed, “The parties have entered into amicable settlement wherein both Parties agreed that upon receipt of the said sum, the Defendant shall continue to use the songs originally composed by the Plaintiff in the movie “Dude” and further the defendant agree and undertake that they shall desist from using the songs composed by the plaintiff in their other movie “Good Bad Ugly”.”

“On examining the joint memorandum of compromise, I find no legal impediment for decreeing the suit in terms thereof. Accordingly, civil suit…is decreed in terms of joint memorandum of compromise dated 28.11.2025, which shall form an integral part thereof. On account of the compromise, each party shall bear his own costs,” the court said and closed the matter.

Background

The legendary music composer had previously moved the high court alleging commercial exploitation of his major musical and literary works of the songs in the movie called “Dude” which had the songs “Nooru Varusham” and “Karutha Machan” in it.

He was also seeking the disclosure of the gains derived by the movie makers since he alleged that the companies have been monetising across various social and digital platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook by adapting and publishing his original work without authorisation. ​

The composer was also claiming royalties against this infringement by the music companies.