It appears Isai Gnani Ilayaraaja has ironed out his differences with ace singer SP Balasubramaniam now. They were daggers drawn over the royalty issue in the last few years and it has been more than two years since the legends were seen together on stage, the recent the grand event Ilayaraaja 75, hosted by TFPC, also went by during the cold war.
The good news for fans of both music legends is that they are once again going to rock the stage together with their combo performance on stage in the musical programme Isai Celebrates Isai (Music Celebrates Music), a grand event to mark the occasion of the maestro’s birthday on June 2.
One may recall a legal tangle involving composer Ilaiyaraaja and singer SPB had begun when the former served a legal notice asking SPB not perform any song composed by him without his permission when he was on a concert tour titled SPB50, to mark his 50th year in the industry in the US.
SPB had taken to his social media page to post, "Couple of days back, an Attorney representing Shri.Iliaya Raja, sent legal notices to me, Smt.Chithra, Charan Organisers of the concerts in different cities and the managements of all the venues, which says that we are not supposed to perform compositions of Shri.Ilaiyaraja without his permission, if so, it is breaking the copyright law and have to pay huge financial penalties and face legal action. Let me say, I am ignorant of these legalities."
"In these circumstances, our troupe cannot perform Isaijnani’s compositions from today. But the show should happen. By God’s grace I have sung lots of other composer’s songs too which we will present. Hope you all will bless our concerts as usual."
Things got sorted out earlier this year between the two as SPB reportedly stated he was ready to pay royalties whenever he sings Raja’s compositions on stage. "I have sung innumerable songs in Ilayaraaja sir’s compositions which have become huge hits. My shows are incomplete without rendition of his songs. I obey whatever Raja sir said with respect and soon sort out the issue," SPB was quoted as saying.
Accordingly, a proper licence was obtained from Ilayaraaja by the organisers of the SPB shows held in March 2019 in the US, whereby they were authorised to perform the copyrighted music of songs composed by Ilayaraaja.
All is well once again with Raja and SPB and the rehearsals for ‘Isai’ event are currently underway at the venue. SP Balasubramaniam met Ilaiyaraja during the rehearsal and photos of the celebrated personalities hugging each other warmly and then having a jovial conversation are going viral.
