SC Stays Kerala High Court Bail Condition Imposed On Kantara Song Varaha Roopam

Supreme Court relaxes restriction placed by Kerala High Court that 'Kantara' should not have 'Varaharoopam' song.

Vijay Kirgandur and Rishab Shetty can only be detained for questioning.

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New Delhi: The Kerala High Court's order that the Kannada film 'Kantara' will not feature the song 'Varaha Roopam' was relaxed on Friday by the Supreme Court. Vijay Kirgandur, the director of the 'Kantara' film, and Rishab Shetty, the actor, can now breathe a sigh of relief after the court ruled that the two can only be detained for questioning.

The top court announced the ruling and granted a stay with the condition that the song be cut from the film. The 'Kantara' movie makers won't be required to remove the song 'Varaha roopam' from the film, the supreme court said in an interim relief. A bench made up of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha, and JB Pardiwala granted anticipatory bail to the film's producer and director.

According to Bar and Bench, the top court said, "Petitioner shall present before Investigating Officer on 12th and 13th February. In the event he is arrested, he shall be released on bail forthwith subject to conditions on trial court. We issue stay on Condition 5." 

Two lawsuits involving the song 'Varaha Roopam' have been filed by Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd and Thaikkudam Bridge, the owner of the copyright and the composer, respectively, of the song Navarasam, which was released more than five years ago.

The Kerala High Court felt firmly that the filmmakers had plagiarised the song, but it does not mean that such conditions can be imposed, CJI DY Chandrachud noted.

The story of “Kantara” is set around a small community living in the woodlands of Kaadubettu in the southern coastal state of Karnataka. Weaving an interesting plot of human versus nature conflict, where death leads to war between villagers and evil forces and Shiva, a rebel defends his village and nature.

The court also said the actor and producer will show up for questioning on February 12 and 13 in connection with the copyright infringement probe over the song.