Supreme Court Stays High Court Order In Copyright Dispute Over Music Of Seven Classic Films

The Supreme Court of India has stayed a Madras High Court order that revived part of a long-running copyright dispute between Saregama India Ltd. and Sreedevi Video Corporation over the audio rights of seven South Indian films, including Salangai Oli, Shankarabharanam, and Sagara Sangamam.

A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the interim order while hearing Saregama’s challenge to a Division Bench ruling of the Madras High Court. The matter has now been posted for further hearing in April 2026.

Background of the Dispute

The litigation traces back to 2014, when Sreedevi Video Corporation filed a commercial suit claiming absolute ownership of the copyright in the sound recordings of seven films. The company relied on assignment agreements executed in 2008 and sought a permanent injunction restraining Saregama from exploiting the music.

Saregama, however, contended that it held prior rights dating back to agreements executed in 1978–79, under which recording and reproduction rights had allegedly been assigned to an entity that was later acquired by it. The label also pointed to a cease-and-desist notice issued in 2010 asserting its ownership over the sound recordings.

High Court Rulings

In 2022, a Single Judge of the Madras High Court dismissed Sreedevi’s suit, holding that its claim for a declaration of copyright ownership was barred by limitation. The court observed that the cause of action had arisen in 2010 when Saregama asserted its rights, but the suit was filed only in 2014—beyond the three-year limitation period.

On appeal, a Division Bench upheld the finding that the declaration claim was time-barred. However, it ruled that Sreedevi could still pursue its plea for a permanent injunction under the Copyright Act, effectively reviving a part of the dispute.

Supreme Court’s Intervention

Challenging this partial revival, Saregama argued before the Supreme Court that once the declaratory relief was held to be barred by limitation, the injunction—being consequential to the declaration of title,could not survive independently.

The apex court has now stayed the operation of the High Court’s order permitting the injunction proceedings to continue, effectively halting further action in the matter until the Supreme Court decides the issue.

Broader Implications

The case is significant for India’s music and film industries, particularly in relation to legacy catalogues where multiple assignments and overlapping agreements often complicate ownership claims. The Supreme Court’s eventual ruling is expected to clarify whether injunctions can be sustained independently when a declaration of title is found to be time-barred.

With several iconic film soundtracks at the heart of the dispute, the outcome could have wider ramifications for copyright enforcement and commercial exploitation of classic film music.