- Friday, May 02, 2025
The controversy centred on the unauthorized use of Ilayaraja’s iconic song “Kanmani Anbodu” from the Tamil film Guna
By: India Weekly
A LEGAL dispute between the producers of Manjummel Boys and acclaimed music composer Ilayaraja has been resolved.
The controversy centred on the unauthorized use of Ilayaraja’s iconic song “Kanmani Anbodu” from the Tamil film Guna. The producers have agreed to pay Rs 6 million to Ilayaraja to settle the issue.
The conflict began when Ilayaraja’s legal team issued a notice to the producers, highlighting that the song was used in Manjummel Boys without obtaining proper authorization.
Despite being credited in the film’s title cards, the song’s inclusion was deemed unauthorized since no formal consent or licensing was secured from Ilayaraja.
In response to the legal notice, the producers of Manjummel Boys arranged a personal meeting with Ilayaraja.
Initially, Ilayaraja sought compensation of Rs 20 million, citing the film’s success and the significant impact of his song. The producers, however, considered this demand excessive and engaged in extensive negotiations to reach a compromise.
After protracted discussions, both parties agreed on a settlement amount of Rs 6 million.
The producers acknowledged Ilayaraja’s substantial contributions to the music industry but felt that the original demand was disproportionate. They opted for the settlement to avoid a protracted legal battle and to safeguard the film’s reputation.
The resolution of this dispute has sparked a public debate. Some critics have argued that Ilayaraja should have chosen to support and mentor the emerging team behind Manjummel Boys rather than pursue legal action.
On the other hand, the producers were keen to resolve the matter swiftly to prevent further conflict and ensure the film’s smooth release.
Ultimately, the settlement allows both Ilayaraja and the producers of Manjummel Boys to move forward without further legal entanglements.
