The Madras High Court delivered a significant ruling on Friday, declining to issue an order restraining the release of the upcoming Tamil film 'Parasakthi'. The court refused to grant any interim relief on a petition that alleged copyright infringement concerning the story of the movie, which is scheduled to hit theatres on January 10.
The Copyright Allegation and Court's Stance
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy presided over the hearing of the plea filed by K V Rajendran, an associate director. Rajendran sought a ban on the film's release, claiming that the makers of 'Parasakthi' had copied his story titled 'Semmozhi'. The petitioner stated that he had written 'Semmozhi' based on the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation and had registered it in the year 2010.
However, the bench refused to restrain the producers from going ahead with the planned release. This decision clears a major legal hurdle for the film's team just days before its scheduled premiere.
Details of the Film and the Dispute
'Parasakthi' is directed by Sudha Kongara and produced by Akash Baskaran of Don Pictures. The film features popular actor Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, alongside Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela.
Interestingly, the film's setting aligns thematically with the petitioner's claimed work. The makers have stated that 'Parasakthi' is set in the 1960s and revolves around the anti-Hindi agitations in Tamil Nadu, a historical backdrop similar to that of 'Semmozhi'. This common historical inspiration formed the crux of the copyright violation allegation.
Implications and the Road Ahead
The court's refusal to grant interim relief means the film's release on January 10 will proceed as planned. This ruling is a significant win for the producers and the creative team, who can now focus on the final promotional push for the film.
While the interim plea has been dismissed, the broader legal suit regarding the copyright claim may continue. The decision underscores the challenges in proving story infringement, especially when narratives are drawn from significant historical events that are part of the public domain. For now, all eyes are on the box office as 'Parasakthi' prepares for its grand release next week.
