Delhi High Court clarifies that pre-1965 Bollywood songs no longer require licenses, opening a shared cultural legacy to the public.

For generations, the music of Bollywood’s Golden Age has drifted through India’s collective memory—on crackling radios, in wedding mandaps, and across quiet afternoons scented with nostalgia. Yet behind these familiar melodies lay an unresolved question: who truly owns this musical inheritance? In a recent clarification, the Delhi High Court offered an answer that resonates far beyond the courtroom.

The Court observed that sound recordings of Hindi film songs released before 1965 no longer require licences for public performance, as their copyright term has expired. Under the Copyright Act, 1957, protection for sound recordings lasts sixty years from the beginning of the year following their publication. Once that period ends, the work enters the public domain—free from royalties, permissions, or gatekeepers.

The issue surfaced during a dispute involving event organizers and a music licensing body that sought fees for playing classic Bollywood tracks. During proceedings, the licensing entity clarified that it does not assert rights over pre-1965 recordings. With this assurance recorded, the Court allowed the event to proceed unhindered, effectively affirming that these songs now belong to the public realm.

The implications are significant. For cultural festivals, hotels, radio programmers, and public venues, the ruling removes long-standing uncertainty around playing iconic melodies from the 1950s and early 1960s. More importantly, it restores unrestricted access to a foundational chapter of India’s cultural history—one shaped by composers like Naushad and S.D. Burman and the voices that defined an era.

The Court’s clarification, however, comes with nuance. While the original sound recordings may be free to use, other rights—such as lyrics, musical compositions, or later remastered versions—may still attract protection, depending on their creation and publication dates.

Still, the larger message is unmistakable. On that day, the Golden Age slipped free of contractual shadows and returned to where it always belonged—into the shared soundscape of the people.