Rajinikanth said the producer (referring to Kalanithi Maran) and the maestro should resolve the existing tussle.
Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and Superstar Rajinikanth. (X)
As we previously reported, maestro Ilaiyaraaja served the makers of Coolie with a copyright notice for unauthorised use of his song “Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa” (from Thanga Magan; 1983) in a remix for Rajinikanth’s Coolie, which Lokesh Kanagaraj is directing.
A special teaser video of Coolie was released last month, where the makers used Ilaiyaraaja’s “Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa” in the background.
Sun Pictures, which is bankrolling the project, hasn’t officially replied to the maestro’s allegation yet, but Rajinikanth has.
Addressing the media outside the Chennai International Airport, Rajinikanth said the producer (referring to Kalanithi Maran) and the maestro (Ilaiyaraaja) should resolve the existing tussle (copyright row).
“The issue is between them,” he added.
Rajinikanth departed for Mumbai recently to participate in the filming of Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel and featuring Amitabh Bachchan in a pivotal role.
The Gnanavel’s directorial marks the collaboration between Rajinikanth and Amitabh after 33 years. Hum (1991) was their last film together.
The recent photos of two veterans hugging each other on the sets of Vettaiyan in Mumbai went viral on social media.
A few days after the launch of Coolie teaser and Disco song, Ilaiyaraaja issued a copyright notice stating that the makers of Coolie must either get his consent in full or take the song out of the promo, which was released on the Internet.
In addition, the music director threatened to take the producers to court if they disregarded his advice.
Furthermore, it appears from the latest events that Ilaiyaraaja will probably not be able to sue team Coolie.
The tune that was featured in the teaser is an intellectual property of a well-known record label.
It seems that the Coolie music partner acquired the label, which resulted in the song’s sale to the makers. Ilaiyaraaja might, therefore, be unable to assert copyright infringement for the Disco music.
Coolie, which has a music score by Anirudh Ravichander, was scheduled to go on floors next month and is slated for a theatrical release in 2025.
Given the ongoing legal issue, we will have to wait and watch if the planned shooting takes place.
Coolie‘s cast and crew have not yet been disclosed. The 171st film of Rajinikanth will not be a part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) and will stand alone.
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