NEW DELHI: Music composer AR Rahman on Friday agreed before the Supreme Court to give credit to Ustad N Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad N Zahiruddin Dagar, popularly known as Junior Dagar Bandhu, in his song “Vera Raja Veera” during pendency of a suit by the Dagars’ heir accusing him of copyright infringement.While appearing for Rahman, senior advocate AM Singhvi told the three-judge bench led by CJI Surya Kant that the composer had always respected tradition and embraced the spirit behind the court’s proposal in the last hearing. Rahman will include a new credit line for the song to be featured every time it is played on OTT or online channels, Singhvi said.
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The line reads: “A piece inspired by the Dagarvani Dhrupad tradition, first recorded as Shiva Stuti by the late Ustad N Faizuddin Dagar and the late Ustad N Zahiruddin Dagar.”
Singhvi said the entry will take four weeks to take effect on all media. The seat was given five weeks to itself.Justice Pratibha Singh asked the Delhi HC to replace the line of credit of “composition based on Dagarvani Drupad tradition” with “composition based on Shiva Stuti of late Ustad Faizuddin Dagar and late Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar”. This interim direction was set aside by the HC Division Bench on the appeal filed by Rahman.
It was challenged in SC by Professor Faiz Wasifuddin Dagar.A week ago, the bench advised Rahman to acknowledge the contributions of the legendary Junior Dagar Bandu to the Dhrupad tradition of classical music.Ustad Faiz Wasifuddin Dagar filed a lawsuit to prevent Rahman from using the song “Shiva Stuti” and said he still held the copyright to his father and uncle’s composition.After disposing of the appeal, the bench said that all contentions of the parties would remain open during the trial of the pending suit before the single judge bench of the SC and clarified that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of any issue raised in the suit.
