Siddharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s much-anticipated film The Vaan: Force of the Forest has run into a music rights dispute days before its scheduled theatrical release. Singer and composer Sargam Vaish has alleged that a song created by him was used in the film’s official trailer without his permission.
Vaish has asked the filmmakers to remove the song from the trailer and indicated that legal action could follow if his concerns are not addressed.
According to a report by The Times of India, Vaish raised the allegation in a video shared on social media. He claimed that his rendition of ‘Aigiri Nandini’ had been used in a particular section of The Vaan’s official trailer without authorisation.
The singer said the issue goes beyond a possible similarity in melody or musical arrangement. According to his account, elements of his original recording, production and vocals were used in the trailer. He also shared a comparison on social media, placing a section of his original song alongside the portion heard in the film’s promotional material.
Vaish said he had spent around three years working on the song. His comments suggest that he considers the alleged use of the recording, rather than merely an imitation of its musical style, to be the central issue in the dispute.
Singer raises existing rights agreement
Vaish has also referred to an existing agreement covering the song. He claimed that ‘Aigiri Nandini’ is already under an arrangement with a major music label. In his view, using the track in a film trailer or other promotional material without the required permission could potentially affect the rights and obligations attached to that agreement.
He has called on the makers of The Vaan to remove the song from the trailer. At the same time, he has asked them to provide documentation if they obtained a valid licence or other form of authorisation to use the track.
A report by Hindustan Times quoted Vaish as saying that the master rights to ‘Aigiri Nandini’ are held by him and his team. He said they had already consulted a lawyer and were preparing to pursue legal action over the alleged unauthorised use.
Vaish also said that a legal notice was sent to the filmmakers on 21 September. The available reports do not provide the full contents of the notice or detail any response from the production team.
Filmmakers have yet to comment
The makers of The Vaan, or the production company associated with the film, have not publicly responded to Vaish’s allegations so far. It therefore remains unclear how the song came to be included in the trailer and whether its use was covered by a licence, contractual arrangement or other form of permission.
The distinction between an original composition, a recorded performance and the master recording can be significant in disputes over music rights. In this case, Vaish has specifically alleged that parts of his own recording and vocals were used, while also referring to his existing agreement with a music label. The relevant contracts and licensing documents would therefore be important in determining how the track was used.
Directed by Deepak Mishra and Arunabh Kumar, The Vaan: Force of the Forest stars Siddharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, with Shweta Tiwari, Maniesh Paul and Anup Soni also among the cast. The film is centred on the forests of central India, folklore and the figure of a forest goddess.
The film has undergone several changes to its release schedule and is currently expected to reach cinemas on 25 September. The dispute has surfaced just before its release, bringing renewed attention to the film’s promotional campaign at a crucial stage.
For now, the allegations have been made by Vaish and have not been publicly addressed by the filmmakers. A clearer understanding of the matter will depend on the production team’s response and any contracts, licences or other documents relating to the use of ‘Aigiri Nandini’ in the trailer.
