For the recently released Telugu comic caper Keedaa Cola, music director Vivek Sagar allegedly recreated the voice of legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam using artificial intelligence (AI) for one of the songs. Balasubrahmanyam’s son and noted singer, SP Kalyan Charan, has now issued a legal notice against the Keedaa Cola team for ‘unethical and unlawful use’ of his father’s voice.

In a press statement released on Friday, Kalyan stated that this update was a shocker to him and his family since no prior permission was obtained. He added, “If such a trend of using AI for commercial exploitation continues in the industry, several present-day singers and musicians, whose livelihood depends on music, will be in peril.”

The press statement added that a legal notice was issued to the Keedaa Cola team on Kalyan’s behalf on January 18, 2024, seeking an apology, damages, and a share in royalties. While the legal notice had called them for a meeting to arrive at an amicable resolution, Kalyan decided to seek legal recourse after the Keedaa Cola team dismissed the allegations completely, even though Vivek Sagar himself had admitted to using AI to recreate SPB’s voice during an interview with the Youtube channel ‘Permit Room.’

Charan also extended his solidarity to all the artists in his statement, noting, “We have huge respect and love for all our legendary singers, musicians, and composers, both present and past, and we stand in solidarity in protecting the community from such unauthorised misuse/abuse of their late lamented skills.”

SP Balasubrahmanyam, who was a legendary playback singer and a significant part of Indian film music for over 50 years, passed away due to COVID-related complications in August 2020.