Kerala Court Rules That Kantara Film Song ‘Varaha Roopam’ Cannot Be Played In Theatres & On Digital Streaming Platforms

A Kerala court has ordered an interim injunction forbidding the use of a controversial song from the Kannada action movie ‘Kantara’ in theatres, as well as on OTT and digital streaming platforms, citing a prima facie violation of the Copyright Act.

First Additional District Court Judge K E Salih ordered that “due credit” be provided to the music band Thaikkudam Bridge and Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Company Ltd, which own the copyright to the ‘Navarasam’ track that was adapted for the song ‘Varaha Roopam’ in the 2022 film Kantara.

The legal case was initiated last year, immediately after Kantara’s film release on September 30.

The court highlighted that the track’s music director admitted to taking “inspiration” from Thaikkudam Bridge’s Navarasam (2015), which is known for fusion of rock music with Indian classical while keeping an individualistic style, speed, and melody.

The court passed the interim order on Thursday while hearing the plagiarism claims against Varaha Roopam. Varaha Roopam was accused of violating copyright rules by stealing tracks from Navarasam, according to the complaint.

Following a review of the case diary, the Kozhikode Chief Judicial Magistrate asked the police to seize documents connected to the plagiarised music — in accordance with Section 64 of the Copyright Act 1957 (copyright infringement).

On April 5, Chief Judicial Magistrate S Sooraj also directed the investigating officer to take the digital audio workstation and all plates used to make infringing copies of the work, as well as gather evidence to investigate whether the music director had breached copyright rules.

This order was issued after Mathrubhumi filed a complaint saying that the probe was not moving further in the right direction.

The Kozhikode court also ordered the investigating officer to submit a progress report on the matter by May 4, 2023.

On February 8, 2023, the Kerala High Court stated that Varaha Roopam in Kantara was a plagiarised version of Navarasam.

Thaikkudam Bridge, which was founded in 2013, is based in Kochi, whereas Mathrubhumi, which is based in Kozhikode, recently celebrated its century.