Ilayaraja, the legendary music director has been in news for wrong reasons in recent times. His office is filing complaints on many singers who are performing the songs composed by the legend. Though he may be legally correct, these acts are not going well with his fans those are thinking on moral and artistic grounds.
Even SP Balasubrahmanyam has faced the wrath of his office, that directed him not to sing Ilayaraja's songs on any dais on the globe without honouring through concerned royalty payments. Indeed, Ilayaraja's compositions were liked by many because of SPB's voice. But recently some producers have lodged complaints on Ilayaraja stating that the music director cannot be the sole owner of the songs he composed. The producers claim that they have their own on them. But as per the IPRS, the creator becomes the ultimate owner be it music or lyric.
The original performer or the producer cannot claim the ownership. We have to see how this issue closes down. But on a whole, Ilayaraja's image may get tarnished for being too commercial, opine fans.