SPB son Charan slaps legal notice to Keeda Kola. SP Kalyan Charan, son of the late legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, has taken legal action against the producer of the Telugu film 'Keedaa Cola' and its composer for allegedly using his father's voice through artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology without permission.
In a statement issued on February 14, Charan expressed his family's gratitude for the love and respect shown towards SPB. However, he expressed disappointment when such actions are taken without the family's "knowledge, consent, or authorization for commercial exploitation."
Charan referred to composer AR Rahman's approach to using technology to recreate the voices of deceased musicians. Rahman ensured that the families were involved and compensated for the use of their loved ones' voices. Charan highlighted Rahman's example to emphasize the importance of obtaining proper permission and providing due credit.
The statement mentioned that 'Keedaa Cola' music director Vivek Sagar admitted in an interview that AI and deepfake technologies were used to recreate Balasubrahmanyam's voice. Charan stated that he sent a legal notice to the makers on January 18, seeking an apology, compensation, a share of the royalties, and a face-to-face discussion to resolve the matter. However, he expressed disappointment with the makers' response, which dismissed the use of AI technology and suggested a media trial instead of a legal approach.
Charan emphasized that his father's voice is not just a personal asset but also holds significant nostalgic value. He believes that the decision to use his father's voice, even artificially, was driven by its emotional impact.