Composer Ilayaraja has sent a copyright notice to ‘Coolie’ makers for using his music in the film’s teaser without permission.
Lokesh Kanagaraj’s next directorial will star Rajinikanth in the lead role and the film has been titled ‘Coolie’. The title teaser of ‘Coolie’ was recently released by the makers, and it left fans stunned. In the teaser titled ‘Coolie’ composed by Anirudh, the song ‘Va Vaa Pakkam Vaa’ from Ilaiyaraaja’s ‘Thangamagan’ was recreated. Hence, Ilaiyaraaja has sent a legal notice to the makers of ‘Coolie’ for using his music in the film without the composer’s permission.
The notice reportedly mentioned that no formal permission was taken from Ilaiyaraaja, the original owner of the ‘Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa’ song and music featured in the teaser. This has been described as an offense under the Copyright Act 1957. In the complaint, special allegations have been made against director Lokesh Kanagaraj because the director is continuously involved in such activities. Earlier, Lokesh Kanagaraj had not received permission from the composer for the song “Vikram Vikram”, which was earlier featured in the film Vikram. Similarly, the music of the song “En Jodi Manja Kuruvi” from Lokesh Kanagaraj’s production venture ‘Fight Club’ has also been accused of being reproduced without permission.
Ilaiyaraaja has demanded the ‘Coolie’ makers to take proper permission for the use of ‘Va Vaa Pakkam Vaa’ song featured in the title teaser or remove the music from the teaser. Ilaiyaraaja’s notice then indicated that he had every right to take legal action if they did not do so.