The Bombay high court on December 23 refused to grant urgent interim relief to Rajiv Rai’s Trimurti Films Pvt. Ltd. in its copyright dispute with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, music company Saregama, and rapper-singer Badshah over the alleged copyright infringement of the Saat samundar paar song from its Vishwatma, in Karan Johar’s Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri.
A single-judge bench of Justice Sharmila Deshmukh orally pronounced the order declining the ad interim application. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on December 25.
Trimurti Films, which holds the copyright in the soundtrack of Vishwatma, including the Saat samundar paar song, filed the suit alleging unauthorised use and remix of the song without its consent. The company sought damages of Rs. 10 crore, a permanent injunction against the use of the song, its tune, lyrics or any derivative works in the film or otherwise, and an order restraining the release, exhibition, communication or broadcast of the film to the extent it included the disputed music.
In its plea, Trimurti contended that a 1990 agreement with Saregama’s predecessor granted only limited rights for reproduction and distribution of the original recording, and did not permit remixing, adaptation, synchronisation or inclusion in a cinematograph film. It argued that all other rights remain exclusively with Trimurti. According to the plaintiffs, they first became aware of the alleged use of the song in early December 2025, when promotional material for Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri featuring the track’s tune began circulating online.
Dharma Productions and Saregama opposed the interim application in court, asserting that their use of the music complies with licensing terms. The court, after hearing arguments, declined to grant ad interim relief at this stage, signalling that the balance of convenience did not favour halting the film’s release on the basis of the prima facie case presented.
The matter is now listed for further hearing on January 9, 2026, when the detailed written order is also likely to be considered.