Sports
Bharat Army joins Anil Kapoor in Prime Video’s Lalla Anthem
Supporters’ group features in T20 World Cup promo with Harbhajan Singh ahead of Super 8.
MUMBAI: When the crowd roars, even the anthem needs backup and the Bharat Army just brought the noise. India’s largest travelling cricket supporters’ group has been woven into Prime Video’s promotional track “The Lalla Anthem – A Warning From Subedaar”, released as Team India enters the Super 8 stage of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The high-energy anthem showcases Bharat Army members delivering coordinated chants, drum beats and fan sequences alongside actors Anil Kapoor and Radhikka Madan, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh and sports presenter Shefali Bagga. The collaboration spotlights the role organised fan groups play in electrifying match-day atmospheres during major international tournaments.
Bharat Army founder Rakesh Patel said, “Cricket for us is about passion, belief, and backing the team through every high and low. Being part of Lalla Anthem felt natural because the song carries that same fire and pride. It celebrates the spirit of standing together, which resonates with us at Bharat Army.”
The group is set for a strong presence in the stands, especially for India’s Super 8 clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad on 22 February, as part of its tournament travel programme. Bharat Army has been a fixture throughout the competition, organising supporter sections and fan engagement activities.
“The Lalla Anthem – A Warning From Subedaar” is composed by Rohan–Vinayak, written by Rishi Upadhyay and sung by Vishal Dadlani. The track promotes the upcoming action-drama Subedaar, starring Anil Kapoor, Radhikka Madan, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal and Mona Singh, directed by Suresh Triveni, which premieres on Prime Video on 5 March.
In a tournament where every cheer counts, Bharat Army’s cameo in the anthem proves fans aren’t just in the stands, they’re part of the soundtrack. Catch the reel on Instagram and feel the pulse before the next ball is bowled.
Sports
Sun TV sues Chennai Super Kings over use of Jailer, Coolie music in IPL promo
Network seeks Rs 1 crore in damages as Madras High Court directs CSK to confirm songs removed from jersey launch video
CHENNAI: A legal battle has erupted even before the first ball of IPL 2026 is bowled. Sun TV Network has moved the Madras High Court accusing Chennai Super Kings of copyright infringement over the alleged use of music, background scores and dialogues from the Rajinikanth films Jailer, Jailer-2 and Coolie in a promotional video for the franchise’s new jersey.
The commercial suit, filed by Sun TV Network Limited against Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited and three of its officials, claims the IPL franchise used copyrighted audio content without obtaining a licence from the rights holder.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy heard preliminary submissions in the matter before adjourning the case to March 16. The court also directed CSK to file an affidavit confirming its statement that the songs in question are no longer being used in the team’s promotional material.
The suit names CSK chief executive and managing director Kasi Viswanathan, head of finance Avinash Sridharan and head of content Radhakrishnan Sreenivasan as defendants alongside the franchise company.
According to Sun TV, CSK released a promotional video on March 1 to unveil its IPL 2026 jersey across social media platforms including Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook. The video allegedly incorporated audio tracks, background scores and dialogues from Jailer, its upcoming sequel Jailer-2 and Coolie — all Rajinikanth projects produced by Sun Pictures, the film production arm of Sun TV Network.
Jailer, released in 2023, emerged as one of the biggest Tamil box-office hits of the year. Its soundtrack by Anirudh Ravichander, particularly the viral track Hukum, became a staple across social media and stadium events. Sun TV told the court that Anirudh Ravichander had been engaged under agreements that vest all rights in the films’ music with the producer, making Sun TV the exclusive copyright holder authorised to license the music.
The network alleged that the content was used at several points in the video, including scenes depicting the arrival of CSK captain MS Dhoni at the team camp, to amplify the promotional appeal of the campaign. It argued that the video was designed to promote the team’s merchandise, including its IPL 2026 jersey sold online at around Rs 2,399, thereby generating commercial gain from copyrighted material.
Sun TV has sought a permanent injunction restraining CSK from using any songs, dialogues or background scores from its films across platforms including social media, stadium broadcasts and promotional campaigns. It has also demanded Rs 1 crore in damages and asked the court to direct the franchise to disclose revenues generated from the promotional campaign that allegedly used the copyrighted music.
Senior counsel J Ravindran, appearing for Sun TV, told the court that CSK had stopped using the songs after receiving an e-mail objecting to their use. Ravindran nevertheless urged the court to ensure that the franchise does not repeat the alleged infringement.
Senior counsel PS Raman, representing CSK, informed the court that the tracks from Jailer, Jailer-2 and Coolie had already been removed from the promotional video. Raman also assured the court that the franchise would obtain proper licences if it uses such material in the future.
With the IPL season approaching and the dispute now in court, the clash has added an unexpected off-field contest to cricket’s biggest league — one that will be fought not with bats and balls, but with copyrights and court orders.
