MUMBAI: Sony BMG filed a case in the Mumbai High Court against Shree Ashtvinayak Cine Vision for the illegal use of the song Jab Se Tere Naina in the film Golmaal Returns.

The hearing of this case was held in the Mumbai High Court today. The final hearing is slated to be held in January.

The composition and the lyrics of the song from Saawariya have been used in multiple scenes of the film Golmaal Returns without any permission or license from Sony BMG who owns all rights to the song. The tunes and lyrics of the song Jab Se Tere Naina was used multiple times with obvious references to the movie Saawariya, which is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Since the matter is subjudice, the concerned parties did not wish to comment on the issue. However sources inform that Sony BMG sent legal notices to Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision asking them to take permission for the use of the above mentioned song, the first of which was sent on 3 November. Despite this, there was no revertal from Ashtavinayak after which another notice was sent on 7 November. In reply to the second notice, Ashtavinayak refuted the claims made by Sony BMG.

Sony BMG then decide to file a case against Shree Ashtvinayak Cine Vision and named as co-defendants, the worldwide distributors of the movie – The Indian Film Company and the home video licensees – Moser Baer.

Incidentally, the makers of Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar had also filed a case on Ashtavinayak saying the film Golmaal Returns bore high resemblance to Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar, which was directed by Rajendra Bhatia.    

Golmaal Returns is directed by Rohit Shetty. In the prequel of Golmaal Returns – Golmaal director Shetty had a mockery scene inspired from the film Black, which too was directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.