The makers of Bigg Boss 19 have received a legal notice demanding damages of Rs 2 crore. The case is over the unauthorized use of Bollywood songs in the Salman Khan-hosted reality show.
According to a report in Mid-Day, the notice was issued by Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL). The complaint states that two popular songs were used on the show without securing the required license.
Songs at the Center of the Dispute
The notice mentions the songs “Chikni Chameli” from Agneepath and “Dhat Teri Ki Main” from Gori Teri Pyaar Main. Both tracks were played during the 11th episode of the show.
These songs are licensed to Sony Music India. Their public performance rights are managed by PPL. The organization claims that using the songs without permission amounts to “willful infringement.”
What PPL Demands
The notice, dated September 19, was sent to Deepak Dhar. Along with the Rs 2 crore in damages, PPL has also demanded additional license fees.
The notice also includes a cease-and-desist order. It prohibits the show from using any sound recordings owned by PPL without prior approval.
Who is Responsible?
The report says that the legal notice was sent to the show’s producers, Endemol Shine India and Banijay. However, sources close to the production house claim that they are not involved in selecting the songs.
According to the source, the choice of music is handled by a dedicated promo team at JioHotstar. This means the responsibility for using the songs may not directly fall on Banijay or Endemol.
No Official Response Yet
Team SCREEN reached out to Banijay Asia, Endemol, and JioHotstar for an official statement. So far, none of the parties has commented on the issue.
This is not the first time that a TV show has faced copyright problems over music. Using songs without the right license can result in heavy fines and legal action.
With Bigg Boss 19 being one of the most-watched shows in India, the case has drawn wide attention. The outcome will now depend on how the production houses and PPL settle the matter.
