After SC intervention, AR Rahman to display names of Ustad M Faiyazuddin Dagar, his nephew in credits of Veera Raja Veera song

Music composer AR Rahman on Friday told the Supreme Court that he is willing to display the Late Ustad M Faiyazuddin Dagar and his nephew in the credits to the song Veera Raja Veera from the film Ponniyin Selvan II [Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar Vs AR Rahman].

The song on OTT and other online platforms will carry the following line depicting credits:

"Composition inspired from Dagarwani tradition Dhrupad, first recorded by Late Ustad M Faiyazuddin Dagar and his nephew."

The same was noted in the order by the Supreme Court Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi.

"We have persuaded the parties for an alternate arrangement regardless of reasons stated by single or two judge bench. Mr Rahman has agreed as an interim arrangement, on all OTT and online platforms, the line depicting credits in respect of the subject song shall be as follows: 'Composition inspired from Dagarwani tradition Dhrupad, first recorded by Late Ustad M Faiyazuddin Dagar and his nephew Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar'," the Court noted.

The Court was hearing an appeal filed by the nephew Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar against a ruling passed in September 2025 by a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, which overturned a single-judge’s interim order in his dispute over the Veera Raja Veera song.

Dagar claimed that the composition of the song was copied from the song Shiva Stuti, composed by his father Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and uncle Zahiruddin Dagar. 

According to Dagar's plea, while Veera Raja Veera contains different lyrics, its taal, beat and musical structure are identical to Shiva Stuti, which was performed globally by the Junior Dagar brothers and included in albums released by PAN Records.

Before the Delhi High Court, the song's composer, AR Rahman, denied the allegations, stating that Shiv Stuti is a traditional composition within the Dhrupad genre, part of the public domain. It was also argued that Veera Raja Veera is an original work, composed using Western musical fundamentals with 227 distinct layers, far beyond the conventions of Hindustani classical music.

In April 2025, a single-judge of the High Court recognised a prima facie case of copyright infringement and directed that song's credit should be shared with Dagar's late father and uncle (Faiyazuddin Dagar and Zahiruddin Dagar), popularly known as the Junior Dagar Brothers.

It also directed Rahman and the production entities to deposit ₹2 crore with the Registrar General of the High Court, pending disposal of the suit

However, a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court later set aside the interim order, opining that Dagar had not made out a sufficient prima facie case of authorship or originality. The Division Bench found that the composition drew from the broader Dhrupad and Dagarvani tradition and could not, at the interim stage, be treated as an original work attributable exclusively to the Junior Dagar Brothers.

Dagar then approached the Supreme Court against the same.

When the matter was initially heard on February 13, the top court told Rahman that there should be "some acknowledgment" of the Dagars in the song.

The Court remarked that Dagar has made out a case on originality though the authorship aspect needs to be examined and merely because Dagar performed first does not automatically confer authorship on him.

The Bench also told Rahman that the Dagarwani tradition's contribution needs to be acknowledged.

When the matter was taken up for hearing today, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Rahman had already acknowledged Dagars were the "first renderers".

"Even before I came to the court I had acknowledged the language my lord wanted that they rendered it first. After Amir Khusro they claimed they are the first renderers," Singhvi said.

He agreed that he will display their names in the credits.

Singhvi also took objection to media reports about the previous hearing which claimed that Rahman had lost the case.

"I have a collection of the press reports between the last date and today. I don't want to make a grievance. They are painting as if Mr. Rahman has lost badly," Singhvi pointed out.

The Court eventually recorded Rahman's submission to display credits to Dagars till the suit filed by Dagar before the High Court is finally decided.

The amount of ₹2 crore deposited by Rahman with the High Court shall be kept with the Registrar General of the High Court, the Supreme Court further said.

"The respondents have already deposited three crores in compliance with single judge and the said amount shall be kept with registrar general of High Court. Since no opinion on merits, let all issues be open to be agitated. Suit shall proceed without being influenced by observations in one or other court. Orders of single-judge and division bench stands modified to the extent above. Let the revised credit be displayed in 5 weeks," the Court directed.

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