Bhoothnath’s producers get legal notice
Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
MUMBAI, MAY 10 (INDIATIMES MOVIES) Nowadays big films don’t release without controversies. It is quite interesting that more than promotions, it is these controversies that help raise the popularity quotient of the films. After ‘Tashan’ and ‘Krazzy 4’, the latest movie to get entangled in a controversy is Ravi Chora’s much awaited ‘Bhoothnath’.
Apparently, a novelist Pankaj Rai has sent a legal notice to B R Films accusing Ravi Chopra and director Vivek Sharma of lifting the story idea from Ruskin Bond’s Ghost Trouble, a book whose film translation rights Rai claims lie with him. He further claims that his rights are registered with AMPTPP and he had announced his plans to make a movie on the book way back in 2003 and has even recorded a song for it.
When asked producer Ravi Chopra whether the news were true, he confirmed, “Yes I have received the notice. I feel it’s stupid as he says that our story is a copy of ‘Ghost Trouble’ whereas our story revolved around a friendly ghost and his relationship with a child.” The producer maintained that Bhoothnath’s is an original by Vivek Sharma and added, “We announced the film more than one and a half year back. If Pankaj Rai had an issue he could have raised it much earlier. This is a deliberate attempt to create hassles just before the film’s release.”
So while Ravi Chopra maintains his view on originality of Bhoothnath’s story idea, it can be called that Rakesh Roshan who had initially rubbished claims of plagiarizing Sony Ericsson’s signature tune had to later give into the court’s order and play a handsome compensation amount. Meanwhile it is only time that will decide Bhootnath’s fate in this legal hassle.
Apparently, a novelist Pankaj Rai has sent a legal notice to B R Films accusing Ravi Chopra and director Vivek Sharma of lifting the story idea from Ruskin Bond’s Ghost Trouble, a book whose film translation rights Rai claims lie with him. He further claims that his rights are registered with AMPTPP and he had announced his plans to make a movie on the book way back in 2003 and has even recorded a song for it.
When asked producer Ravi Chopra whether the news were true, he confirmed, “Yes I have received the notice. I feel it’s stupid as he says that our story is a copy of ‘Ghost Trouble’ whereas our story revolved around a friendly ghost and his relationship with a child.” The producer maintained that Bhoothnath’s is an original by Vivek Sharma and added, “We announced the film more than one and a half year back. If Pankaj Rai had an issue he could have raised it much earlier. This is a deliberate attempt to create hassles just before the film’s release.”
So while Ravi Chopra maintains his view on originality of Bhoothnath’s story idea, it can be called that Rakesh Roshan who had initially rubbished claims of plagiarizing Sony Ericsson’s signature tune had to later give into the court’s order and play a handsome compensation amount. Meanwhile it is only time that will decide Bhootnath’s fate in this legal hassle.
Loading ...
Loading ...
May 16th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Though plagiarizing copy right and its issues are a routine with the film industry. Still, now a days its has become a regular to file PIL cases by idle brains on celebrities just to gain some publicity. And it si more where it concerns Bachchan’s. The Law and enforcement agencies should take action and punish such people to set forth an example there by avoiding precious Tax Payers Money gettting wasted on trivial issues.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Copyright track has to be there especially for Indian movies which includes Bollywood, Tollywood and other industries…
Reason is they keep on copying the stories and not even giving a courtesy to the original writer or director…this is very impotence to the Indian film industry.
If you observe the Hindi Movies from past 3 years most of them were copied either from South Indian Stories
(Hera Pheri ,Hungama,Hulchul ,Garam Masala,Chup Chup Ke,Bhool Bhulaiyaa and many more….) or from Hollywood (Hindi Speed is ‘Cellular’ in its first half, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi is “Anger Management & Meet the Parents” many more ….)
If this continues then there wont be any room for Creative writers and directors…
So i strongly believe there should be some serious copyright measure has to be taken those who try to copy with out the permission of original Writer or Director.
If my word hurts some fans..please forgive me..
Phani