It has been a week since the Coolie Disco song, which featured as a theme track in the Coolie title teaser, released as a single on YouTube and on all audio streaming platforms. Coolie Disco composed by Anirudh Ravichander is part of Rajinikanth’s upcoming film with director Lokesh Kanagaraj and Sun Pictures production house.
The song samples the Ilaiyaraaja composed Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa song from Thanga Magan (1983). Ilaiyaraaja’s song was hinted to be part of the film Coolie, a day before its title reveal, and now it has come to light that the makers never obtained a no-objection certificate from the original composer.
நாளை மாலை 6 மணி முதல் D.I.S.C.O 🔥#Thalaivar171 @rajinikanth sir @anirudhofficial @anbariv @girishganges @philoedit @sunpictures pic.twitter.com/v1LIZzpnBX
— Lokesh Kanagaraj (@Dir_Lokesh) April 21, 2024
Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja, a veteran known for fighting copyright issues tooth-and-nail has sent Coolie producers Sun Pictures legal notice through his counsel. Ilaiyaraaja’s notice to Coolie makers states that states that the composer holds absolute rights, including moral rights, over his work.
It’s second time #Anirudh track for a #Rajinikanth starrer faces issue with respect to Copyright
1. Annamalai Theme incorporated for Kannula thimiru track faced issue (delay in stream)
2. Va Va Pakkam Vaa (Notice sent by #Ilaiyaraaja to Sun Pictures ) –#Coolie pic.twitter.com/XF5YoHrRl7
— MovieCrow (@MovieCrow) May 1, 2024
Usage of the D-I-S-C-O bit from the Va Va Pakkam Va song without ‘necessary and appropriate permission/license from author/owner of the musical works’, amounts to infringement and unauthorized usage of copyright, the notice adds.
Ilaiayraaja’s legal notice further demands that Sun Pictures either obtain consent from the composer at this point, or to remove the Coolie Disco song from Coolie movie. It warns that failure to do so will be considered an ‘intentional breach of the rights of one of the world’s top music composers’, and result in appropriate legal action.
