Kantara plagiarism row: Netizens ask, ‘Is there anyone left who hasn’t seen or heard Varaharoopam?’

If you thought that the plagiarism row involving the Varaharoopam song from Kantara was over, well, it’s far from it. The case has now gone all the way to the Apex Court, where the Kerala High Court’s order to stop the use of the song in the film was stayed. Netizens who have been following the developments of the case wonder what the point is in stopping the use of the song now, when the film has been in theatres for well over 100 days with B Ajaneesh Loknath’s controversial version of the song, as well as on OTT too. Is there anyone left who hasn’t seen or heard Varaharoopam? wonder netizens, arguing that the longer the case drags on, the more irrelevant it becomes.

Currently producer Vijay Kiragandur of Hombale Films and director Rishab Shetty are in the dock in the plagiarism row, while Ajaneesh isn’t. Netizens have been wondering why the composer is not named in the plaint, as he has openly admitted to being inspired by Thaikkudam Bridge’s Navarasam, but denied having plagiarised. To a layperson, though, Navarasam and Varaharoopam can come across as eerily similar, whicih is also why netizens have been saying that Hombale Films and Ajaneesh should have worked out a royalty deal with Thaikkudam Bridge and avoided all these legal hassles.

Ever since the controversy arose, netizens have been pointing out that Ajaneesh is an alleged repeat offender. While the most notable case is that of the Hey, Who are You song from Kirik Party, which the composer called a homage to Hamsalekha’s Madhya Raathrili from Shanti Kranti, other songs by him are also results of inspired material. Kaagadada Doniyalli bears similarities to The River by The Bombay Royale, while Fly Fly Fly from Sundaranga Jaana is like Meghan Trainers Dear Future Husband. Singara Siriye from Kantara was allegedly copied from the Marathi song Apsara Ali.