Siddharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s much-anticipated film The Vaan: Force of the Forest has become embroiled in a music rights dispute ahead of 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 called on the filmmakers to remove the song from the trailer and has indicated that legal action could follow if his demand is not addressed.
According to a report by The Times of India, Vaish raised the allegation through 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 also sought to demonstrate the alleged use by comparing a section of his original recording with the portion heard in the trailer. He said his involvement with the song extended beyond its composition, claiming that the recording, production and his vocals had also been used.
Vaish said he had spent nearly three years working on the song. His allegation therefore centres not simply on similarities in melody or musical arrangement, but on the alleged use of elements from his own recorded work.
Existing music agreement cited
The singer has also brought his existing contractual arrangements into the dispute. According to his account, the song is already covered by an agreement with a major music label. He has expressed concern that its use in a film trailer or other promotional material without the necessary permission could have implications for those existing rights arrangements.
Vaish has argued that artists or other rights holders should be consulted before their creative work is used commercially. He has asked the makers of The Vaan to remove the song from the trailer. At the same time, he has called on them to provide documentation if they obtained a valid licence or other permission to use the track.
A separate report by Hindustan Times quoted Vaish as saying that the master rights to ‘Aigiri Nandini’ are held by him and his team. He also said that they had contacted a lawyer and begun preparations for legal proceedings.
Vaish further claimed that a legal notice was sent to the filmmakers on 21 September. The precise contents of the notice have not been made public in the information available.
Filmmakers yet to respond
There has so far been no public response from the makers of The Vaan or the production company regarding Vaish’s allegations. As a result, it remains unclear how the song came to be included in the trailer, whether permission was obtained through an authorised process, or whether any licensing or rights agreement covered its use.
Such disputes can involve several separate rights, including ownership of the original recording and permissions governing its commercial use. The relevant contracts, licences and other documentation would therefore be central to establishing whether the use of the recording was authorised.
Directed by Deepak Mishra and Arunabh Kumar, The Vaan: Force of the Forest stars Siddharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, alongside Shweta Tiwari, Maniesh Paul and Anup Soni. The film is centred on forests in 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 arrive in cinemas on 25 September. The music rights allegation has emerged just days before that release, adding another point of attention around the film’s promotional campaign.
At this stage, however, Vaish’s claims remain allegations. A clearer picture of the dispute will depend on the filmmakers’ response and on any contracts, licences or other documents concerning the use of ‘Aigiri Nandini’ in the trailer.
