Veteran filmmaker Rajiv Rai has expressed strong dismay and concern over the alleged unauthorized use of music from his iconic 1992 film, Vishwatma. The focus of the dispute is the signature opening beats of his chartbuster song, “Saat Samundar Paar,” which have reportedly been used in the promotional material for Dharma Productions’ upcoming film, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday.
Rai, who directed the original film and co-produced the music, has stated clearly that neither Dharma Productions, headed by Karan Johar, nor the music label Saregama—which holds the distribution rights to his works—sought his required prior approval to incorporate the track into the new film’s teaser.
Rai stressed that using even a small, recognizable portion, like the opening beats, in a new film without the original creator’s consent is a violation of his creative rights. The filmmaker criticized what he sees as a growing, troubling practice within the industry where producers bypass the original creator, simply acquiring a license from a music label and assuming that grants them the right to reuse the work in a new film.
Rai clarified his contract with the music label, explaining that while Saregama can distribute his music and license it for non-film uses (like TV shows or stage performances), they cannot license his compositions for use in another feature film without his explicit, separate permission. He insists that this distinction is crucial for protecting the original context and value of the songs he created.
Following the release of the teaser, Rai swiftly directed his legal team to formally contact both Dharma Productions and the music company to address the issue.
The legal communication serves as a formal notice, requesting that the use of the “Saat Samundar” music be immediately halted in the film’s promotional content and, potentially, in the final movie itself, unless the proper legal and financial terms are agreed upon.
Rai emphasized that while he hopes for an amicable resolution without resorting to a lengthy court battle, he is ready to take legal action to protect his work. “They must approach me, pay me, and document it legally,” he insisted, highlighting that the unauthorized use of legacy content diminishes the creative and commercial rights of the original creators. To know such updates, stay tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
