Music lovers and legal watchers tuned in as the Supreme Court tackled the ‘Veera Raja Veera’ imbroglio involving AR Rahman and classical stalwarts. The double Oscar winner pledged in court to honor the Junior Dagar Brothers by listing their contributions to the source ‘Shiv Stuti’ in the blockbuster track from ‘Ponniyin Selvan 2’.
Friday’s bench, led by CJI Suryakant alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, noted the agreement presented by top counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Platforms from Instagram to Netflix must update disclaimers in five weeks, standardizing recognition.
Yet, the apex court ring-fenced the Delhi High Court trial, unaffected by today’s proceedings. The SLP dismissal marks a procedural win, but substantive battles loom.
Previously, justices had eloquently celebrated Dagarvani’s timeless gifts to Hindustani music, preferring conciliation. Rahman’s gesture aligns with calls for cultural sensitivity amid fusion trends.
This saga illuminates challenges in modern soundscapes drawing from antiquity, urging industry-wide protocols to celebrate rather than contest heritage, ensuring legends like the Dagars endure in credits and consciousness.