Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, May 29: In a major legal escalation in the Bollywood industry, Pooja Entertainment (India) Ltd has filed a Rs 400 crore suit before the Bombay High Court against Tips Industries Limited, Ramesh Taurani, Kumar S Taurani and filmmaker David Dhawan over the alleged unauthorised use of songs from the 1999 blockbuster Biwi No 1 in the upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai.
The lawsuit pertains to the alleged commercial exploitation of the popular songs Chunnari Chunnari and Ishq Sona Hai, which were originally featured in the Vashu Bhagnani-produced film Biwi No 1.
According to the suit filed through V K Dubey Associates, Pooja Entertainment has sought urgent injunctive relief restraining the release, distribution, exhibition, streaming and further commercial exploitation of the upcoming film and its promotional material containing the disputed songs.
Speaking on the matter, Advocate V K Dubey said the dispute revolved around ownership and usage rights of the audio-visual content.
“We have filed a suit with a claim of Rs 400 crore against Tips Music Company. The legal battle has been continuing for many days, and the rights of the musicians were not ready to be settled,” Dubey stated.
He further explained that older agreements executed during the late 1990s allegedly granted only audio rights to Tips and did not include visual exploitation rights.
“During that time, the agreements made with Tips allowed only audio rights. In 2018, Tips had emailed us seeking visual rights. Vashu Bhagnani had responded, but the matter remained unresolved,” he said.
Dubey added that Pooja Entertainment later issued a legal notice terminating the rights previously granted to Tips, including the audio permissions.
“If they are the lawful owners of the music rights, they must show their documents. That is why we have approached the court. Justice will prevail and the truth will come out,” he said.
Apart from seeking removal of the songs from the film and its promotional material, Pooja Entertainment has also demanded that the title Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai be changed.
The production house has further sought an additional Rs 100 crore in damages if the defendants allegedly continue using the disputed works despite objections.
According to the company, the defendants unlawfully exploited valuable intellectual property rights without any valid licence, assignment or authority to commercially use the original audio-visual works.
The suit also argues that the alleged infringement affects the proprietary and commercial rights associated with the late 1990s blockbuster banner founded by producer Vashu Bhagnani.
Further proceedings in the matter are awaited before the Bombay High Court.