Tag: music rights

Entertainment

Bigg Boss 19 Faces ₹2 Crore Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Use of ‘Chikni Chameli’ Song

Tanisha Cardozo

The popular reality TV show Bigg Boss 19, hosted by Salman Khan, has found itself embroiled in legal controversy. The show’s producers, Endemol Shine India, are facing a ₹2 crore lawsuit for allegedly using copyrighted music without obtaining the necessary licenses. The complaint was filed by Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), which oversees public performance rights for over 450 music labels, including Sony Music India.

According to the notice, the issue stems from Episode 11 of Bigg Boss 19, which streamed on September 3. In that episode, two popular Bollywood tracks — Chikni Chameli from Agneepath and Dhat Tere Ki from Gori Tere Pyaar Mein — were reportedly used without authorisation. Both songs are licensed to Sony Music Entertainment India, making PPL the legal entity responsible for issuing performance licenses.

The notice, served on September 19 by advocate Hiten Ajay Wasan, identifies the show’s production directors—Thomas Gousset, Nicolas Chazarain, and Deepak Dhar—as responsible parties in the alleged infringement. PPL claims that Endemol Shine India failed to obtain the mandatory public performance licence under Section 30 of the Copyright Act, 1957, thereby constituting what they call a “wilful infringement.”

In addition to demanding ₹2 crore in damages, PPL has also issued a cease-and-desist notice, warning the producers not to use any sound recordings in future episodes without proper licensing.

As of now, neither Endemol Shine India nor streaming partner JioCinema has responded to the allegations.

This season of Bigg Boss follows the theme “Gharwalon Ki Sarkaar,” where contestants have greater decision-making power than Bigg Boss himself. On the entertainment front, Episode 12 marked the show’s first double eviction, with Nagma Mirajkar and Natalia Janoszek exiting the house. Remaining contestants include Gaurav Khanna, Ashnoor Kaur, Nehal Chudasama, Baseer Ali, Zeishaan Quadri, Neelam Giri, Tanya Mittal, Awez Darbar, Kunickaa Sadanand, Farhana Bhatt, and Shehbaz Badesha.

Bigg Boss 19 streams daily at 9 PM on JioCinema and airs at 10:30 PM on Colors TV. But now, the show may be facing more scrutiny off-screen than on it.

Music

Jack White Sells Part of His Music Catalog to Sony Entertainment

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Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral

American rock icon Jack White has sold a portion of his music catalog to Sony Entertainment, according to sources confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. The transaction, which quietly closed earlier this summer, marks a significant move in White’s career, as he joins a growing list of legendary artists leveraging the value of their musical legacies.

White, born John Anthony White, rose to international stardom as the frontman and guitarist of the influential rock duo The White Stripes. Known for hits like “Seven Nation Army,” White later expanded his career through a successful solo path and with bands such as The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather.

Although exact figures and percentages remain undisclosed, insiders familiar with the deal say that only a portion of White’s catalog has been sold. The deal reportedly includes recordings from across his career—ranging from early White Stripes material to his solo projects and collaborations.

Sony and White have a long-standing business relationship. In 2012, Sony’s flagship label Columbia Records signed White for a solo deal in partnership with his independent label, Third Man Records, following the breakup of The White Stripes in 2011.

With the continued trend of high-profile catalog acquisitions—from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen—White’s decision underscores the growing interest among music companies to secure rights to iconic and profitable back catalogs. The partnership with Sony could open further opportunities for White’s music to reach new audiences through media licensing, sync deals, and streaming initiatives.

As legacy artists rethink the future of their creative output, deals like these reflect not only financial strategy but also legacy preservation.

Music

International Producer KMKZ Accuses T-Series of Plagiarizing His Beat in Hit Song Raanjhan

Tanisha Cardozo

A major controversy has erupted in the Indian music scene as international music producer KMKZ has come forward with serious allegations against India’s largest music label, T-Series. According to KMKZ, his original beat was used without permission, credit, or payment in the hit song Raanjhan, featured in the OTT film Do Patti starring Kriti Sanon and Kajol.

In a video posted to his Instagram, KMKZ detailed how he discovered the alleged plagiarism. He explained that he had uploaded the beat online nearly two years ago, and it was recently brought to his attention by a follower who recognized the beat in Raanjhan. After listening to the track himself, KMKZ said he was shocked to hear the similarity. The song, which has been composed by the well-known Bollywood duo Sachet-Parampara and sung by Parampara Tandon, has amassed over 290 million streams on Spotify and more than 33 crore views on YouTube, making it one of the most popular Indian tracks in recent months.

What makes the claim more significant is KMKZ’s assertion that he had absolutely no knowledge of the beat being used until it was flagged by a listener. “I produced the number one song in India and didn’t even know about it,” he said. “They pretty much just ripped the beat off of YouTube and didn’t contact me or pay me or credit me or anything.” He also shared that he made several attempts to contact T-Series and other involved parties via email, but received no response.

The song Raanjhan is part of Do Patti, a suspenseful thriller released on OTT platforms in November 2024. Directed by Shashanka Chaturvedi, the film features Kajol and Kriti Sanon as twin sisters hiding dark secrets, alongside Shaheer Sheikh and Tanvi Azmi. The emotional and haunting soundtrack played a key role in the film’s appeal, making the allegations even more serious.

Adding to the controversy, this isn’t the first time T-Series and Sachet-Parampara have faced such accusations. In 2024, musician Nilanjana Ghosh Dastidar accused the same team of plagiarizing her husband Rajarshi Mitter’s composition for the song Maiyya, also featured in Do Patti.

KMKZ is now seeking public acknowledgment and justice. In his Instagram post, he made a direct request to his followers: “If anyone knows anyone who can help me out with this in some way then please get this video to them and have them DM me asap! And please leave a comment on this video and share it so it can reach the right people.” He concluded with a clear message: “There’s so many stories of producers getting ripped off nowadays but man 300 million streams and number 1 on Billboard is crazy. I DEMAND A PLAQUE.”

The video has since gone viral, with growing support from independent musicians and creators online, sparking a larger conversation about intellectual property, music ownership, and fair recognition in the industry. As the story gains momentum, all eyes are now on T-Series and how they respond.