Ilayaraja and S.P. BalasubramaniamRenowned singer S.P. Balasubrhamanyam has announced that he won't be singing music maestro Ilayaraja's compositions in his concerts from now on as he has received a legal notice from the composer.
SPB, in a Facebook post, said that he had he received a legal notice from Ilayaraja, asking him not to sing his songs without permission.
Apparently it's not just SPB who got the legal notice, but singers Chithra and Charan too were served the notice.
“Couple of days back, an Attorney representing Shri.Iliaya Raja, sent legal notices to me, Smt.Chithra, Charan, organisers of the concerts in different cities and the managements of all the venues, which says that we are not supposed to perform compositions of Shri.Iliayaraja without his permission, if so, it is breaking the copyright law and have to pay huge financial penalities and face legal action. Let me say, I am ignorant of these legalities”, SPB wrote on Facebook.
This means that we will not be able to hear some of the best Tamil songs like Enna satham intha neram, Vaanam thottu pona and Sembaruthi by SPB at concerts. “By God's grace I have sung lots of other composer's songs too which we will present (in the concert),” he said.
SPB is currently on a world tour that began in August from Toronto and has already visited countries like Russia, Dubai, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
At the same time, Balasubrahmanyam also clarified that he is ready to abide the law and requested his followers not to begin a discussion over this.
Ilayaraja and Balasubrahmanyam have been thickest of friends for over six decades. Even before they forayed into the film industry, they used to perform together at several marriages, birthday parties and private concerts.
Balasubrahmanyam has also sung in several of Ilayaraja's compositions over the years.
The issue of copyright and royalty has been in discussion for a long time. Singer Yesudas too urged to give royalty to composers and lyricists in 2011.
(With inputs from IANS)
