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Vashu Bhagnani sues Tips, David Dhawan for ₹400 crore, seeks cancellation of Hai Jawani To Ishq Hona Hai release
Vashu Bhagnani has escalated his dispute against Ramesh Taurani's Tips and David Dhawan over the audio rights of songs, Chunnari Chunnari and Ishq Sona Hai.
The fight between Vashu Bhagnani's Puja Entertainment and Ramesh Taurani's Tips has escalated further. On Thursday, Puja Entertainment filed a ₹400 crore lawsuit before the Bombay High Court against Tips Industries Limited, Ramesh Taurani, Kumar S Taurani and filmmaker David Dhawan. The lawsuit alleges the accused exploited iconic songs from Vashu Bhagnani's 1999 hit Biwi No.1 in Varun Dhawan's upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai.
Bhagnani sues the makers of Hai Jawani To Ishq Hona Hai
Filed through counsels V K Dubey Associates, the suit seeks urgent and sweeping injunctive relief restraining the release, distribution, exhibition, streaming and further commercial exploitation of the film and its promotional material containing the two disputed songs - Chunnari Chunnari and Ishq Sona Hai.
Explaining the suit, Bhagnani's lawyer told news agency ANI, “We have filed a suit with a claim of Rs. 400 crores to the Tips Music Company. The legal battle has been increasing for many days, and the rights of the musicians were not ready to be settled. Earlier, the rights of movies were based on agreements. Today, music companies buy songs from big producers or lyricists who write or create them. During that time, the agreements with Tips covered only audio rights. In 2018, Tips emailed us requesting visual rights. Vashu Bhagnani had replied to them, but their conversation did not settle.”
The lawyer added that Puja Entertainment had sent a notice to Tips cancelling the audio rights previously granted to them, which means they cannot use the songs in the new film. “If they are the lawful owners of the music rights, they must show their documents. This is why we have filed a claim against Tips. Justice will prevail, and the truth will come out,” advocate Dubey added.
What is the controversy?
The upcoming David Dhawan film, Hai Jawani To Ishq Hona Hai, uses two songs from Biwi No 1. Bhagnani's Puja Entertainment says the makers do not have the rights to the said songs and must remove them from the film and the promotional material. The film's title is derived from one of the songs, Ishq Sona Hai, which is why Puja Entertainment has also demanded a title change for the film. The production house has further demanded an additional ₹100 crore as damages if Tips and David Dhawan fail to comply with the demands.
Meanwhile, Ramesh Taurani of Tips, says his company holds the music and audio rights for the songs. They issued a statement on Thursday, calling the allegations baseless.
The film, directed by David Dhawan, stars Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde, and Mrunal Thakur. It is set to release in theatres on June 5.
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