Sun TV Network Limited has moved the Madras High Court seeking modification of an interim injunction obtained by veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja in a John Doe suit filed to protect his personality rights. The matter came up before Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, who granted time until 21 January 2026 for the composer’s counsel, A. Saravanan, to obtain instructions on the modification applications filed by Sun TV Network and Chennai-based music label Music Masters Audio Video LLP.
The court also extended, until the next date of hearing, the interim injunction earlier granted on 21 November 2025, by Justice N. Senthilkumar. That order restrains all known and unknown entities and individuals from exploiting Ilaiyaraaja’s name, image, photographs, or voice for commercial or personal purposes without his consent.
Ilaiyaraaja had instituted the personality rights suit against a wide array of named platforms and broadcasters, including Amazon, Saavn Media, YouTube, Gaana, Apple Music, Five Star Audio, Sun TV Network, Music Masters, Star Vijay TV, Indian Record Manufacturing Limited, Zee Entertainment, Meta Platforms, Sony Music, and several unknown entities.
In an affidavit filed through counsel Rahul Balaji, Sun TV Network told the court that while the composer’s core claim was “not without any merit,” the blanket nature of the interim injunction was excessive and had a serious adverse impact on the network’s ability to commercially exploit copyrights it had lawfully acquired. The network contended that the injunction, if left unmodified, would prevent it from even creating legitimate compilations of songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja and from giving him due attribution, despite no specific allegation having been levelled against the network in the plaint.
Describing itself as one of Asia’s leading media and entertainment conglomerates, operating 37 television channels and 69 FM radio stations, Sun TV Network stated that it holds broadcast and communication rights over a vast catalogue of Ilaiyaraaja’s compositions. According to the affidavit, the network regularly broadcasts these songs across its television and radio platforms through curated programming such as theme nights and “Ilaiyaraaja Specials,” often scheduled around festivals, weekends, birthdays, or anniversaries of iconic films.
The network further submitted that it consistently provides clear on-air attribution to the composer, identifying him as the creator of the music through programme titles, on-screen graphics, and anchors’ introductions, thereby ensuring due recognition for his work. It argued that such practices advance, rather than infringe, the composer’s right to attribution.
Emphasising the cultural dimension of its broadcasts, Sun TV Network claimed that its platforms had helped expand the reach of Ilaiyaraaja’s music and popularise it among successive generations of the Tamil diaspora worldwide over the past three decades. “Sun TV’s practice of naming him in programme titles and on-air graphics fulfils and furthers the plaintiff’s right to attribution, rather than infringing it,” the affidavit stated.
On this basis, the network urged the High Court to suitably modify the interim injunction so that it does not impede the lawful exploitation of copyrights already acquired by the company. The matter is expected to be taken up again after the composer’s counsel responds to the modification plea.
Source: The Hindu
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