Ilaiyaraaja issues notice to makers of 'Manjummel Boys' for unauthorised use of 'Gunaa' song
Chennai, May 23: Malayalam 'Manjummel Boys' is the latest to receive a legal notice by legendary music director Ilaiyaraaja for unauthorised use of his hit song, 'Kanmani Anbodu' from the film 'Gunaa'.
A sleeper hit, 'Manjummel Boys', produced by Soubin and Babu Shahir, and Shawn Anthony under Parava Films, is based on a true incident that occurred in the 'Guna' caves in Kodaikanal in 2006. It has been received exceptionally well in Tamil Nadu, as well as globally.
Originally called The Devil's Kitchen, the caves were notorious for many accidents that led to the disappearance of people with no trace. After the release of 'Gunaa', the Tamil film featuring Kamal Haasan in 1991, which was shot there, the caves were referred to as Guna caves and became more popular among tourists.
'Manjummel Boys' traces the story of one such bunch of inebriated tourists from Kochi, fans of the film ‘Gunaa'. Their holiday turns nightmarish when one of the boys falls into the cave. The film ends with the song, 'Kanmani Anbodu', in what is referred to by many as a tribute to the cult status of the song and the film.
Whether it is a tribute or not, when a song by someone is used in another film, it has to follow legal procedures and permission must be sought," said Illaiyaraaja's legal counsel Saravanan Annadurai to PTI.
The notice stated that "it is a settled position of law that where a person is using such original musical works for commercial benefit, exploitation and other business gains, such person is legally obliged and bound to acquire necessary and appropriate permission/license from the author/owner…"
"In this case, the owner of the song is Ilaiyaraaja and ‘Majummel Boys' used his song without his consent or any payment of royalty or license fee," added Annadurai.
The notice calls upon the producers to either obtain proper permission to continue using the song in the film, or remove the song within 15 days of receiving the notice. "If they fail to do so, we will seek remedy under the Copyright Act 1957," said Annadurai.
On May 2, Ilaiyaraaja, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, had also issued a notice to the yet-to-release film, ‘Coolie' starring Rajinikanth, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film, produced by Sun Pictures, had used a refrain from yet another hit of Ilaiyaraaja, ‘Va Va Pakkam Va' from 1983 Tamil film 'Thanga Magan', which, incidentally, also features Rajinikanth, in its teaser.
"There's a history of exploitation, many others have also used his songs without proper permission, so yes, they are also being issued notices," said Annadurai.
Despite trying, PTI could not reach out to producers of ‘Manjummel Boys' for comments.
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Assembly winter session to begin on Monday
discussion on pressing issues in North Karnataka to take place
Belagavi: The winter session of the Karnataka state legislature, set to take place in Belagavi, begins tomorrow, marking the 13th session held in the city. This session carries a significant weight of expectations, particularly for the people of North Karnataka, who hope for meaningful discussions and actionable solutions to the region’s persistent challenges.
Despite promises over the years to address the issues plaguing the region, there remains a sense of disillusionment among the people, as previous sessions have often failed to deliver substantial results. Many view these meetings as symbolic gestures rather than opportunities for genuine progress.
One of the critical topics that require urgent attention is the Mahadayi Project. Despite the tribunal's verdict seven years ago, the project has yet to commence, as it remains stalled due to the Central Wildlife Board’s pending approval.
Similarly, the Krishna Upper River Project has become a recurring subject of discussion in these sessions, yet it continues to face delays. Although the state has been allocated a share of water, it remains largely unutilized. The long-standing proposal for an alternative dam on the Tungabhadra River also remains unfulfilled, leaving the people of North Karnataka increasingly frustrated.
Another pressing concern is the lack of industrial development in the region. With no significant industries being established, many talented individuals from North Karnataka are compelled to migrate to cities like Pune, Bengaluru, and Goa in search of better opportunities. Even initiatives like the Invest Karnataka-Hubballi program, which promised investments of ₹83,000 crore, have failed to make an impact. Confusion over land pricing and allocation has deterred industries from setting up their operations in the area, further exacerbating the problem.
Moreover, the aftermath of recent heavy rains has left many residents struggling with immense damage to their homes and crops. However, the compensation provided thus far has been inadequate, prompting widespread demands for increased financial assistance. Farmers and other affected individuals are urging the government to approve ₹5 lakh for rebuilding collapsed houses and to address the lack of proper crop damage compensation.
