Iranian music band seeks stay on release of 'Agent Vinod'

Mumbai: An Iranian music band approached the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the release of actor Saif Ali Khan-starrer spy thriller Agent Vinod for alleged copyright violation. The movie starring Saif and Kareena Kapoor is slated for release on Friday. The music band Barobax Corp had on 16 March served a legal notice through law firm Vidhii Partners to music director Pritam Chakraborty, Eros International Media, Illuminati Films Private Ltd and Super Cassettes Ltd claiming that the song Pungi bajaa de from the movie was copied from a song composed by them in 2010. With no reply from the music director or distributors, the band has filed a suit before the high court seeking a stay on the release of the movie and restraining them from using the song Pungi bajaa de in the movie. The high court is likely to hear the matter tomorrow. [caption id=“attachment_253276” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“File photo Saif. AFP”]  [/caption] The music band Barobax Corp was founded in 2003 by three Iranian nationals Kashayar Haghgoo, Kevian Haghgoo and Hamid Farouzmand. According to the suit, Barobax had on 16 January,  2010 produced and released an album titled Soosan Khanoom which became a rage. “On March 12 this year, the band came across the promotions of the movie Agent Vinod on satellite television in Iran. The song ‘Pungi Baja De..’ was being aired. On listening to the song, the band realised that the initial portion of the song is lifted without any change from the title song of their album,” the suit claims. According to the suit, the band is the owner of the copyright of the song Soosan Khanoom which is registered under the Copyright Act in Canada on June 30 last year and hence the music of the song cannot be used without the band’s permission. Soon after learning about the copyright infringement the band sent their representative Nargis Kazerooni to India to initiate legal action. PTI