JUDGMENT

C. HARI SHANKAR, J.

A. The lis

1. A song is just a song, a thing of joy to lighten a dreary evening. That is, till it becomes subject matter of copyright conflict in a court of law, when it suddenly metamorphoses into much more.

2. Copyright vests, in a song, independently in the music, the lyrics, and the sound recording. It is the intricate balance between these copyrights, and their situs, with which we, in this appeal, are concerned.

3. Ilaiyaraaja, a highly respected music maker from the South, is in appeal before us, challenging judgment dated 30 January 2025 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in IA 1021/2025 and IA 2163/2025 in CS (Comm) 38/2025¹“the Suit” hereinafter.

4. IA 1021/2025 was filed by the respondent Saregama India Limited²“SIL” hereinafter, as the plaintiff in the suit. By order dated 16 January 2025, ad interim relief was granted to SIL and against the defendants in the suit, namely, Vels Film International Limited³“VFIL” hereinafter as Defendant 1, Divo TV Private Limited⁴“DTPL” hereinafter as Defendant 2 and the appellant Ilaiyaraaja as Defendant 3.

5. IA 2163/2025 was filed by Ilaiyaraaja for vacating the stay granted by order dated 16 J