Just weeks before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, an unexpected off-field controversy has emerged between two of the tournament’s most prominent franchises. The 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 dispute revolves around the alleged use of copyrighted music and dialogues from films starring Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. These films – including Jailer, Jailer 2 and Coolie – are produced by Sun Pictures, the film production arm of Sun TV, which holds the exclusive rights to their audio and music.
According to the lawsuit, CSK used portions of these copyrighted audio tracks in a promotional video for their IPL 2026 jersey launch without obtaining permission or securing a license from the rights holders.
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 featured several well-known audio elements from Rajinikanth’s blockbuster films, including the song “Hukum” from Jailer, “Hukum Reloaded” from Jailer 2, and the “Harbour Gang” background score from Coolie. These tracks were combined with iconic dialogues and background music to create a dramatic and cinematic introduction for the team’s new kit.
The music and sound effects were strategically used throughout the video to heighten the excitement around the campaign. One of the most notable scenes showed CSK veteran MS Dhoni arriving at the team camp, accompanied by powerful background music from the films.
Sun TV’s legal team argued in court that the rights to the music in these films are exclusively owned by the production company. Composer Anirudh Ravichander had reportedly signed agreements that assign all music rights to the producers, meaning Sun TV controls how the 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 merchandise sales, particularly their new IPL jersey priced at around ₹2,399.
“It is needless to state the influence that music from films involving Mr Rajinikanth and Mr Anirudh would have in aiding merchandise sales of a team based in South India, and more particularly Chennai,” the plaint stated.
What Sun TV is demanding in court?
In its legal filing, Sun TV has asked the court for several forms of relief against CSK. These include a permanent injunction preventing the franchise from using any songs, dialogues or background scores from Sun TV films in promotional content, stadium broadcasts, or social media posts without authorization.
The company has also demanded ₹1 crore in damages for the alleged copyright violation. In addition, the lawsuit seeks a directive requiring CSK to disclose the revenue generated from the promotional campaign that used the disputed audio tracks.
During the preliminary hearing, senior counsel J. Ravindran, representing Sun TV, 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.
Appearing for CSK, senior advocate P. S. Raman confirmed that the franchise had taken corrective action and removed the disputed audio tracks from the promotional video.
“We will file an affidavit to this effect,” Raman stated, assuring the court that the team would obtain proper licenses if they wished to use such music in the future.
The court has now directed CSK to submit a formal affidavit confirming that the songs are no longer being used without authorization. The matter has been scheduled for its next hearing on March 16.
Interestingly, the lawsuit does not only target the franchise itself. It also names three senior officials from Chennai Super Kings as defendants: CEO Kasi Viswanathan, finance head Avinash Sridharan, and content head Radhakrishnan Sreenivasan. Their inclusion indicates Sun TV’s intention to hold the management directly responsible for the alleged infringement.
The case has already caught the attention of the wider IPL ecosystem. According to reports, several other franchises have begun reviewing their own social media practices, as many teams regularly use popular songs and film audio in promotional content without always securing formal licensing.
For now, the legal battle adds an unusual subplot to the buildup for IPL 2026. While teams prepare for the season on the field, this dispute highlights the growing importance of intellectual property rights in the entertainment-driven world of modern cricket.
