The film Mrs. and Mister, directed by and starring actress Vanitha Vijayakumar, was released on July 10 at Kamala Theatre in Chennai. Following the release, Vanitha addressed the press after reports surfaced that music maestro Ilaiyaraaja had filed a legal case against her regarding the unauthorized use of the song ‘Rathiri Shiva Rathiri’ in the film.

Speaking to reporters, Vanitha stated that the rights to the song were legally obtained through Sony Music, and the necessary payments were made. She explained,

“We paid Sony Music and obtained permission. The legal dispute between Sony and Ilaiyaraaja is still ongoing. If I have purchased the rights from Sony, what more can I do if another party claims ownership? It’s like buying a house and then being told by someone else that the land belongs to them.”

Visibly emotional, Vanitha added that she had personally visited Ilaiyaraaja’s residence in an effort to prevent any misunderstandings. She claimed to have met his wife, Jeeva Amma, and even conducted religious offerings with the jewelry she received, expressing her dedication to becoming part of the Ilaiyaraaja household.

“I even told him in person, fell at his feet, and received his blessings. I’ve worked hard for this film and didn’t want any conflict. I don’t wish to comment further on this matter,” she said tearfully.

In response, representatives from Ilaiyaraaja’s side clarified that despite Vanitha’s meeting with him, the ongoing legal dispute over music rights between Ilaiyaraaja and Sony Music has not been resolved. They asserted that Vanitha did not receive direct permission from Ilaiyaraaja to use the song and are now seeking legal recourse to prevent its use in the film.

Further raising concerns, Ilaiyaraaja’s team expressed discomfort over the way the film was marketed, alleging that the film’s promotional material could mislead the public into thinking Ilaiyaraaja had endorsed or composed music for a film perceived to carry adult themes.

“Using Ilaiyaraaja’s name and image in promotional content, while associating him with a film of such nature, is not acceptable,” his team said. “We are pursuing legal action to prevent misuse of the song and Ilaiyaraaja’s public image.”

Adding to public curiosity was Vanitha’s comment about becoming the “daughter-in-law” of Ilaiyaraaja’s family, which has sparked speculation. Given that Ilaiyaraaja has two sons, music composers Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja, the nature and intent of her statement remain unclear, leaving many to question if there was any past romantic involvement or discussion of marriage within the family.

As of now, the legal proceedings are ongoing, and neither Sony Music nor Ilaiyaraaja has issued an official public statement regarding the final ownership status of the disputed song.

Source / Image Credit : Filmibeat Tamil