The Supreme Court had urged A.R. Rahman to give “some sort of an acknowledgement” to the Dagar brothers, even though the film credits already acknowledged that the song was based on the ‘Dagarvani Tradition’ Dhrupad.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
Music composer A.R. Rahman on Friday agreed in the Supreme Court to mention the ‘Shiva Stuti’ performance of the Junior Dagar brothers in the credit lines of the ‘Veera Raja Veera’ song featured in the film, Ponniyin Selvan II.
Appearing before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, for Mr. Rahman and the makers of the film, conveyed his clients’ consent to add the line – ‘Composition inspired from the Dagarwani tradition Dhrupad, first recorded as ‘Shiv Stuti’ by late Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar, popularly known as Junior Dagar brothers’ in the credits.
The move came after a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, in a previous hearing, had urged the composer to give “some sort of an acknowledgement” to the Dagar brothers, even though the film credits already acknowledged that the song was based on ‘Dagarvani Tradition’ Dhrupad. The court had observed that the dispute involved reputed names in the music industry.
The court said the decision by the filmmakers and Mr. Rahman extended only to the limited point of mention in the credit line and did not prejudice the issues to be decided in the copyright infringement suit filed by the successor of the Dagar brothers, Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar. All legal options were open, the court clarified.
The court said modification in the credits should be reflected in four to five weeks.
Published – February 20, 2026 10:05 pm IST
