Supreme Court Disposes Of Plea After A.R. Rahman Agrees To Credit Dagar Brothers’ "Shiva Stuti" Performance In Ponniyin Selvan II Song

The Supreme Court disposed of the plea after composer A.R. Rahman agreed to give credit to the 'Shiva Stuti' performance of the Junior Dagar brothers in the song "Veera Raja Veera" from the film Ponniyin Selvan II.

The Bench was hearing the plea filed by Dhrupad singer Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar challenging the Delhi High Court order, which set aside the injunction order against music composer AR Rahman with respect to the composition 'Veera Raja Veera' in the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan II.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi ordered, "Leave granted...we have persuaded the parties for an alternate arrangement regardless of the reasons stated by the single or the 2-judge bench. Upon persuasion, Mr Rahman has agreed that, as an interim arrangement, on all OTT and online platforms, the line depicting credits in respect of the subject song shall be as follows: "Composition inspired from the Dagarwani tradition Dhrupad, first recorded by Late Ustad M Faiyazuddin Dagar and his nephew of late Ustad...". The Respondents have already deposited three crores in terms of Para...with the single judge, and the said amount shall be kept with Registrar General of the High Court in the same manner as directed. Since no opinion on merits, let all issues be open to be agitated. It goes without saying that the suit shall proceed without being influenced by observations in one or other court. The orders of the single judge and the division bench stand modified to the extent above. Let the revised credit be displayed in 5 weeks."

The Bench previously recommended that the filmmakers officially credit the song "Veera Raja Veera" as being based on a "Shiva Stuti" originally performed by the Junior Dagar Brothers, notable figures in the ancient Dagarvani tradition.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahman, informed the bench that the composer had agreed to the court’s earlier suggestion to provide specific credit to the original performers, despite the ongoing legal debate over plagiarism and authorship.

The bench passed an order establishing an alternate arrangement that modifies previous High Court rulings. As an interim measure, all OTT and online platforms featuring the song "Veera Raja Veera" from Ponniyin Selvan II will now carry a revised credit line. The agreed-upon text will state:

"Composition inspired from Dagarwani tradition Dhrupad, first recorded by Late Ustad M. Faiyazuddin Dagar and his nephew."

This revised credit must be implemented across all digital platforms within the next five weeks.

The Court noted that the respondents have already deposited ₹3 crores in compliance with previous judicial directions. This amount will remain secured with the Registrar General of the High Court pending the final outcome of the litigation.

Singhvi also raised concerns regarding how the case was being reported in the press, suggesting that recent coverage inaccurately portrayed Rahman as having "lost" or "acknowledged plagiarism." The Bench remarked that the court cannot always police media reporting.

Background

Dhrupad singer Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar alleged that Rahman’s composition infringed upon a specific "Shiva Stuti" created by his predecessors in the 1970s. Dagar claims the piece was first recorded in Amsterdam in 1978 and that the film song reproduces its core melodic structure and rhythm without authorization. While Rahman had already credited the broader "Dagarwani tradition," the petitioner sought specific recognition for the individual composers and performers who first brought the piece to life.

Previously, representing A.R. Rahman, Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi noted that the specific music had been performed by various other artists since 1991 without objection. However, in the interest of fairness and respect for the tradition, Singhvi agreed to seek instructions on adding the requested acknowledgement "as a first performer," provided it does not prejudice Rahman's legal standing in the ongoing suit.

The bench suggested that Rahman add a line of credit identifying the Junior Dagar Brothers as the first performers of the piece, noting, "These gharanas [musical houses] have contributed immensely to Shastriya Sangeet. Without them, modern singers might not have the foundation they stand on today."

The legal battle began in 2023 shortly after the theatrical release of Ponniyin Selvan II. Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar filed a commercial suit in the Delhi High Court, alleging that A.R. Rahman’s "Veera Raja Veera" infringed upon the copyright and moral rights of a "Shiva Stuti" composed by his father and uncle in the 1970s. Dagar contended that the film song lifted the core melodic and rhythmic structure of the Dhrupad piece, which had been famously recorded in Amsterdam in 1978.

The single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court issued an interim order in favour of the Dagar family. The court directed the filmmakers to amend the song's credits to specifically mention the Dagar brothers. Furthermore, the judge ordered the defendants to deposit ₹2 crores as security and pay legal costs, marking a significant, if temporary, victory for the classical musician.

The appellate bench, however, set aside the requirement for the ₹2 crore deposit and modified the interim injunction. The court ruled that complex questions regarding authorship and whether the music was truly "original" or part of a shared public tradition could only be settled during a full trial, rather than at an early interlocutory stage. Hence, Ustad Dagar approached the Supreme Court and filed the present petition.

Cause Title: Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar versus A.R. Rahman and Ors.[SLP(C) No. 4742/2026]