Manjummel Boys Producers Settle Dispute with Ilaiyaraaja Over Song Rights
New Delhi, August 5, 2024 — The Malayalam film industry hit Manjummel Boys has been at the center of a legal dispute following its release. The film, which was also released in Telugu under the same title, faced a challenge from renowned music composer Ilaiyaraaja regarding the unauthorized use of his iconic song “Kanmani.”
Ilaiyaraaja, who holds the rights to the song from the 1991 film Gunaa, claimed that the producers of Manjummel Boys did not obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from him for the song’s inclusion in the film. Despite having secured permission from the audio label that owns the song, the producers faced legal action from Ilaiyaraaja.
To resolve the issue, the producers of Manjummel Boys—Soubin Shahir, Babu Shahir, and Shawn Antony—agreed to pay Rs 60 lakh in compensation to Ilaiyaraaja. The composer initially sought Rs 2 crore following the film’s considerable success. After several rounds of negotiations, the final settlement was reached at Rs 60 lakh.
Ilaiyaraaja’s “Kanmani,” originally composed for Gunaa and performed by Kamal Haasan, remains one of the most cherished songs in Indian cinema. The dispute highlights the complexities of securing music rights and underscores the importance of obtaining proper permissions in the film industry.
