a few weeks before the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 seasonAn unexpected off-field dispute has emerged between two of the tournament’s most prominent franchises. Media conglomerate Sun TV Network, which owns Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has filed a copyright infringement case against Chennai Super Kings in the Madras High Court.
The controversy revolves around the alleged use of copyrighted music and dialogues from films starring Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. These films – which include Jailer, Jailer 2 and Coolie – are produced by Sun Pictures, the film production arm of Sun TV, which has the exclusive rights to their audio and music.
According to the lawsuit, CSK used parts of these copyrighted audio tracks in their IPL 2026 jersey launch promotional video without obtaining permission from the rights holders or acquiring a license.
The controversy began on March 1, 2026, when Chennai Super Kings unveiled their new jersey for the upcoming season through a promotional campaign on social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
The video features many famous audio elements from Rajinikanth’s blockbuster films, including the song “Hukum” from Jailer, “Hukum Reloaded” from Jailer 2 and the “Harbor Gang” background score from Coolie. These tracks were combined with iconic dialogues and background music to create a dramatic and cinematic introduction to the team’s new kit.
Music and sound effects were used strategically throughout the video to build excitement around the campaign. One of the most remarkable scenes the CSK legend showed ms dhoni With powerful background music from the films, the team reached the camp.
Sun TV’s legal team argued in court that the music rights in these films belonged exclusively to the production company. Composer Anirudh Ravichander had reportedly signed agreements that assign all music rights to the producers, meaning Sun TV controls how tracks can be used or licensed.
The company’s complaint states that CSK used these copyrighted elements without permission for a commercial campaign designed to promote the sale of merchandise, specifically their new IPL jersey priced at approximately ₹2,399.
“It goes without saying how much of an impact the music of films featuring Mr. Rajinikanth and Mr. Anirudh will have in aiding the merchandise sales of South India and especially the Chennai-based team.” It is stated in the plaint.
What is Sun TV demanding in court?
In its legal filing, Sun TV has sought various reliefs against CSK from the court. These include a permanent injunction barring the franchise from using any songs, dialogues or background scores from Sun TV films in promotional materials, stadium broadcasts, or social media posts without authorization.
The company has also sought damages of ₹1 crore for alleged copyright infringement. Furthermore, the suit seeks a direction to CSK to disclose the revenue generated from the promotional campaign using the disputed audio track.
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During the preliminary hearing, senior counsel representing Sun TV J. Raveendran informed the court that CSK had already stopped using the songs after receiving an email from the broadcaster on March 1 objecting to their use. The franchise reportedly removed the original video and later uploaded a modified version without the copyrighted music.
Senior advocate PS Raman, appearing for CSK, confirmed that the franchise has taken corrective action and removed the controversial audio tracks from the promotional video.
“We will file an affidavit to this effect,” Raman assured the court that if the team wanted to use such music in the future, they would get the proper license.
The court has now directed CSK to file a formal affidavit confirming that the songs are no longer being used without permission. The next hearing of the case has been fixed for March 16.
Interestingly, the lawsuit doesn’t just target the franchise. It also names three senior Chennai Super Kings executives as defendants: CEO Kasi Viswanathan, finance head Avinash Sridharan, and content head Radhakrishnan Srinivasan. Their inclusion indicates Sun TV’s intention to hold management directly responsible for the alleged violations.
The matter has already attracted the attention of the wider IPL ecosystem. According to reports, several other franchises have begun to review their own social media practices, as many teams regularly use popular songs and film audio in promotional materials without obtaining formal licensing.
For now, the legal battle adds an unusual subplot to the build-up to IPL 2026. While teams prepare for the season on the field, the dispute highlights the growing importance of intellectual property rights in the entertainment-driven world of modern cricket.
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