A few weeks before the start Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 seasonAn unexpected off-field feud has erupted between two of the tournament’s most prominent franchises. Sun TV Network, the media conglomerate that 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 has exclusive rights to their audio and music.
CSK has allegedly used parts of these copyrighted audio tracks in a promotional video for the IPL 2026 jersey launch without obtaining permission or license from the rights holders.
The controversy started on 1 March 2026 when Chennai Super Kings unveiled their new kit for the upcoming season through a promotional campaign on social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
The video features several well-known audio elements from Rajinikanth’s blockbuster films, including the background score of ‘Hukum’ from Jailer, ‘Hukum Reloaded’ from Jailer 2 and ‘Harbour Gang’ from Coolie. These tracks are combined with iconic dialogues and background music, creating a dramatic and cinematic presentation for the team’s new set.
Music and sound effects were used strategically throughout the video to build excitement around the campaign. One of the most striking scenes showed the CSK veteran MS Dhoni when he arrives at the team camp accompanied by powerful background music from the movies.
Sun TV’s legal team claimed in court that the rights to the music in these films belong only to the production company. Composer Anirudh Ravichander is said to have signed agreements handing over all music rights to the producers, meaning Sun TV controls how the songs are used or licensed.
The company’s complaint alleges that CSK has used these copyrighted elements without permission for a commercial campaign designed to promote merchandise sales, specifically their new IPL jersey priced at around ₹2,399.
“There is no need to mention the impact that music from films featuring Mr. Rajinikanth and Mr. Anirudh will have on sales in South India, especially for a team based in Chennai.” stated in the claim.
What is Sun TV demanding in court?
In its legal petition, Sun TV has sought several forms of relief from the court against CSK. These include a standing injunction barring the franchise from using any songs, dialogues or background scores from Sun TV movies in unauthorized promotional content, stadium broadcasts or social media posts.
The company has also sought ₹1 crore in damages for alleged copyright infringement. Further, the suit seeks a directive requiring CSK to disclose the revenue generated from the promotional campaign that used the controversial audio tracks.
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During the preliminary hearing, senior counsel J. Ravindran, representing Sun TV, told the court that CSK stopped using the songs after receiving an email from the broadcaster objecting to their use on March 1. The franchise reportedly deleted the original video and later uploaded a modified version without the copyrighted music.
Appearing for CSK, senior counsel PS Raman confirmed that the franchise has taken corrective action and removed the controversial audio tracks from the promotional video.
“We will submit a reference in this regard” Raman assured the court that if they want to use such music in the future, the team will get proper licenses.
The court has now directed CSK to submit an official affidavit confirming that the songs are no longer being used without permission. The next court hearing on the case is scheduled for March 16.
Interestingly, the lawsuit doesn’t just target the franchise itself. It also names three senior officials from Chennai Super Kings: CEO Kasi Viswanathan, finance head Avinash Sridharan and content head Radhakrishnan Sreenivasan. Their inclusion indicates Sun TV’s intention to hold management directly responsible for the alleged violation.
This work has already caught the attention of the wider IPL ecosystem. Many other franchises have reportedly begun reviewing their social media practices, as many teams use popular songs and movie audio in promotional content without always securing an official license.
For now, the legal battle adds an unusual subplot to the IPL 2026 build-up. As 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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