Supreme Court Stays Madras HC Order Reviving Sreedevi Video-Saregama Dispute Over Tamil Telugu Film Music

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a Madras High Court order that had revived an injunction claim in a copyright dispute between SaReGaMa India Ltd and Sreedevi Video Corporation over the audio rights of iconic Tamil and Telegu films such as Sagara Sangamam, Salangai Oli and Shankara Bharanam.

The High Court had held that although Sreedevi's plea seeking declaration of copyright was barred by limitation, its claim for permanent injunction could still be examined independently and remanded the matter to a Single Judge for fresh adjudication.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice on SaReGaMa's special leave petition challenging that remand. The court ordered, “Interim stay of the impugned judgment and order, until further orders.”

The dispute concerns rival claims over the sound recordings of several classic South Indian films.

Sreedevi Audio claims it acquired exclusive and irrevocable audio rights under two assignment agreements dated July 17, 2008 with Poornodaya Movie Creations and Poornodaya Art Creations. It says it has exploited the soundtracks since 2008.

On August 6, 2010, SaReGaMa issued a cease-and-desist letter asserting that it was the absolute owner of the same copyrights. It traced its title to earlier assignments in favour of Sea Records and a subsequent transfer in 2000.

Sreedevi filed a commercial suit in May 2014 seeking declaration of copyright and a permanent injunction.

A Single Judge of the Madras High Court dismissed the suit as time-barred, holding that limitation began on August 6, 2010.

In November 2025, a Division Bench upheld the finding that the declaratory relief was barred by limitation. However, it held that limitation bars the remedy but does not extinguish rights. It observed that an injunction claim could be considered independently under Section 55 of the Copyright Act and remanded the matter for fresh consideration.

The Supreme Court has now stayed that High Court ruling.