The king of southern cine music, 75-year-old Illayaraja, a Padma Vibhushan, is fighting a lone battle for royalty. Arraigned against Illayaraja are music companies, light music troupes and singers and now some movie producers who have filed a case under the Indian Copyright Act against the music director challenging his right to demand a royalty.

"Illayaraja is doing what the IPRS (The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd) is doing. Illayaraja exited IPRS couple of years ago as the amount he was given as royalty for his about 6,000 songs was meagre," said E. Pradeep Kumar, the music director's copyright consultant. He said the IPRS itself is under the scrutiny of Enforcement Director (ED) on various charges.