Varaha Roopam row: Court directs 'Kantara' makers to stop playing song

Bengaluru: ‘Kantara’ film continues to be in the news for various reasons. After raking in impressive collections, the film is now gaining traction on the Internet because of an alleged claim of plagiarism over one of its tracks titled ‘Varaha Roopam’.

A Kerala-based band ‘Thaikkudam Bridge’ has accused the makers of the Kannada film of ripping off their song ‘Navarasam’. ‘Varaha Roopam’ features the same melody as that of ‘Navarasam’ and follows the same chord progression on guitars only difference being a prominent Nadaswaram in the former while ‘Navarasam’ has the same spectrum of notes played on Carnatic violin.

The Kozhikode sessions court after hearing the lawsuit filed by Thaikkudam Bridge, issued an order on October 28 (Friday) directing the makers of the movie to stop playing Varaha Roopam in theatres.

After the court’s judgement, the band’s official Instagram page shared an update that read, “The Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kozhikode has injuncted the producer, director, music composer, Amazon, YouTube, Spotify, Wynk Music, Jiosavan, and others from playing the song Varaha Roopam in the film Kantara without the permission of Thaikudam Bridge.”

In the film, ‘Varaha Roopam’ comes at an important plot point during the dance performance of Buta Kola when the Guliga God possesses the body of one of the characters.