New Delhi, March 25 -- A Grammy-award winning South African composer who wrote and performed the iconic opening chant in "Circle of Life" for Disney's "The Lion King" movies is suing a comedian for allegedly damaging his reputation by intentionally misrepresenting the song's meaning on a podcast and in his stand-up routine.

Lebohang Morake's lawsuit accuses Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, known as Learnmore Jonasi, of intentionally mistranslating the chant, which launches the 1994 Disney movie and is central to staged versions as well as Disney's 2019 remake.

The dispute, which has gone viral as the two men challenge each other on social media, stems from statements Jonasi made in his stand-up routines and in a recent podcast...