Trimurti sues Dharma, Saregama, Badshah over use of song ‘Saat Samundar Paar’ in upcoming film

Trimurti Films Pvt Ltd has approached the Bombay High Court against Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions alleging that it infringed Trimurti's copyright over the 1992 song “Saat Samundar Paar” in the upcoming film Tu Meri Main Tera [Trimurti Films v. Dharma Productions & Ors.]

The production house has sought damages of ₹10 crore and a permanent injunction to restrain use of the song including its tune and lyrics for any exploitation or remix in the film releasing on December 25 or any other film.

The suit has named Dharma Productions and Namah Pictures Pvt Ltd, the producers of the film, music label Saregama India Ltd and rapper‑composer Aditya Prateek Singh, popularly known as 'Badshah' as defendants.

The matter was listed before single-judge Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, who granted time to the defendants to file their reply.

The matter will be heard again on December 22 on the question of whether to grant urgent interim reliefs.

According to the suit, Trimurti is the first owner of copyright of the film Vishwatma and its songs including ‘Saat Samundar Paar’.

Thus, all rights in the musical and literary works as well as the sound recording, vest with Trimurti including the right to incorporate the song or any part of it in any cinematograph film.​

According to the plaint, a 1990 agreement with Saregama’s predecessor, The Gramophone Company of India Ltd, only assigned rights limited to reproduction and distribution of existing, original audio work.

Trimurti contends this assignment did not include modify or adapt the song recording to create a derivative work through means including synchronization, remix.

“The agreement did not confer any right to grant the said song a new identity or character by embedding it within a different cinematograph film, nor to alter, modify or adapt the original work in a manner that results in its transformation or recontextualisation. Any such use amounts to an unauthorised alteration and distortion of the original work undertaken without the consent of the authors of the underlying works,” the plaint stated.

Trimurti states that in early December 2025 it discovered online promotion of Tu Meri Main Tera using the tune of “Saat Samundar Paar” in Instagram posts by Dharma, Namah and Saregama, with Badshah reflecting as the artist on the poster.

The plaint referred to articles indicating the defendants were “remixing” the song for inclusion in the film though no licence or authorization was sought from Trimurti.

“Such misrepresentation has been done deliberately so as to ride upon the reputation and goodwill of Trimurti.Such wrongful actions amount to tort of passing off and unfair trade practices and are actionable as a civil wrong”, the plaint filed through Advocates Rashmi Singh & Karan Khiani highlighted.

Apart from damages and injunction, Trimurti has also sought an order to stop the release, exhibition, communication or broadcast of the film to the extent it contains the alleged infringing song.

Additionally, as an alternative to the ₹10 crores damages, Trimurti has prayed for a decree for rendition of accounts and payment of profits earned from the infringed song.

Senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond with advocate Hiren Kamod appeared for Trimurti.

Senior advocate Birendra Saraf with advocates Parag Khandhar and Chandrima Das briefed by DSK Legal appeared for Dharma Productions.

Senior advocate Veerendra Tulzapurkar appeared for Saregama India Ltd.