Warner Music India has acquired the Gemini Music catalog of Tamil film soundtracks.
The Warner Music Group division has also signed an exclusive long-term music deal with filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon and his production company, Ondraga Entertainment. The deal covers both his existing catalog and future releases.
A third agreement is a partnership with Malayalam film production and distribution company Magic Frames.
Financial terms of the three deals, announced today (October 16), were not disclosed.
The Gemini Music catalog includes the soundtracks to Thalapathy Vijay‘s Nanban and Thuppakki, Dhanush‘s Mayakkam Enna, Suriya‘s Singam 2, and director Bala‘s Paradesi.
All five soundtracks were originally released on Gemini Audio, the music label of Chennai-based film production and distribution company Gemini Film Circuit.
The catalog features music by composers including Harris Jayaraj, G.V. Prakash Kumar, and Devi Sri Prasad, according to Warner Music India.
Menon‘s catalog covers film soundtracks, independent music, and upcoming releases.
Highlights include Darbuka Siva‘s Maruvaarthai, from the film Enai Noki Paayum Thota, and A.R. Rahman‘s Thalli Pogathey, from Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada.
Independent singles Bodhai Kodhai and Ulaviravu, both released by Ondraga in 2018, are part of the deal, as are forthcoming titles with music by Harris Jayaraj and A.R. Rahman.
The exclusive long-term partnership with Listin Stephen‘s Magic Frames covers a catalog of more than 500 tracks, plus new releases.
Magic Frames‘ catalog includes music from the films Kaduva, Jana Gana Mana, Driving Licence, Gold, and Vilaayath Budha.
Under the agreement, Warner Music will handle the global release of soundtracks and music videos from all future films that Magic Frames produces, acquires, or distributes.
“South India’s vibrant regional markets are central to building a sustainable, future-forward music business in India,” said Jay Mehta, Managing Director, Recorded Music and Publishing, India and SAARC, at WMG.
“By combining marquee catalog acquisitions with long-term creative partnerships, we’re strengthening our regional foundation while leveraging Warner Music‘s global network to take these incredible soundtracks and artists to the world.”
“By combining marquee catalog acquisitions with long-term creative partnerships, we’re strengthening our regional foundation while leveraging Warner Music‘s global network to take these incredible soundtracks and artists to the world.”
Jay Mehta, Warner Music Group
“South Indian film music has a lasting cultural impact, with soundtracks that continue to find new audiences well beyond their original release,” said Ashok Parwani, Head of Music for South India at Warner Music India.
Parwani added: “These partnerships allow us to build on that enduring appeal while investing in the next generation of releases, creating a stronger and more expansive repertoire across the region.”
“South Indian film music has a lasting cultural impact, with soundtracks that continue to find new audiences well beyond their original release.”
Ashok Parwani, Warner Music India
In parallel, Warner Music India said it is expanding its pipeline of new releases in South India.
The company pointed to Mutta Kalakki, a song by G.V. Prakash Kumar and Ken Karunaas from the film Youth. Warner said the track peaked in the top three on YouTube Charts India.
Upcoming film releases include OM, starring Dhanush and due in theaters on November 20, with music by Sai Abhyankkar.
Also on the slate are the Malayalam film 40 Days of House Party, scored by Bibin Ashok, and Oru Startup Kadha, featuring music by Paal Dabba.
Among recent releases is Mandaadi, starring Soori, with music by G.V. Prakash Kumar.
Another is Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, a Bhavana Studios production starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, with music by Vishnu Vijay.
The deals build on Warner Music India‘s acquisition of a majority stake in Divo, announced in February 2023.
Divo, led by Founder and Director Shahir Muneer, works across distribution, publishing, label operations, and digital media in South India.
Warner Music India said it and Divo are focusing on established catalogs, long-term creative partnerships, and new releases across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada music.
Parwani joined Divo as Head of Music in December 2025, after two decades at Sony Music India.
At Sony, he headed the company’s southern repertoire when it released the soundtrack to Menon‘s Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa in 2010. The label also put out the music for the director’s Vaaranam Aayiram, Neethaane En Ponvasantham, and Yennai Arindhaal.
Mehta, who has led Warner Music India since its launch in 2020, told MBW in December 2024 that the company had set out to become a top-three label in the country.
“To have that kind of dream in an extremely competitive Indian market, without having a domestic catalog, almost felt unreal,” Mehta said at the time. “But [we’ve already] had success.”
Mehta added that regional languages in India were “growing multiple times faster than Hindi” and that “most of our M&A deals are in the regional space.”
In November 2025, Warner Music India signed an exclusive worldwide distribution deal with Indian label Ultra Music, which has a catalog of more than 14,000 tracks.
In April, WMG launched Warner Chappell Music India and put Mehta in charge of both recorded music and publishing across India and neighboring South Asian markets.
Warner said at the time that domestic repertoire accounted for 89% of all music streaming in India.
In June, Warner Music India struck a partnership with Kolkata-based SVF Entertainment to expand into Bengali music.Music Business Worldwide
