K.RANGADOSS Vs. LYCA PRODUCTIONS
LAWS(MAD)-2020-2-283
HIGH COURT OF MADRAS
Decided on February 13,2020

K.Rangadoss Appellant
VERSUS
Lyca Productions Respondents


Referred Judgements :-

R G ANAND VS. DELUX FILMS [REFERRED TO]
ANVAR P.V. VS. P.K. BASHEER [REFERRED TO]


JUDGEMENT

G.Jayachandran, J. - (1.)Suit filed for declaration, injunction, rendition of accounts and damages. The plaintiff (Cinema Script Writer) has filed the suit alleging that, in the year 2010, he contacted one Ragunath who was an Associate of the 2nd Defendant (A.R.Murugadoss, Film Director and Script Writer) and gave his script titled "Seergazhi Pakkam Maathaanam" (hereinafter referred as "SPM"). The said Ragunath passed on the script to 2nd defendant and the 2nd defendant without the knowledge and consent of the plaintiff stolen the character of "Vennila P.hd" in his script "SPM" and made a Tamil feature film "Ezham Arivu". The plaintiff was shocked when he saw the replica of character name "Vennilla P.hd" in the film "Ezham Arivu". Being aggrieved by this incident, the plaintiff to avoid further plagiarism registered his script "SPM" in the South Indian Film Writer's Association (3rd Defendant), in which, the plaintiff is a member since, 2006. The script was registered on 10.04.2013 along with another script "Katre Nillu Kavithai Sollu".
(2.)On 29.10.2014, he happened to see the Tamil feature film "Kathi" produced by Lyca Production (1st defendant) and directed by A.R.Murugadoss (second defendant). To his utter shock and surprise, the story of the Tamil feature film "Kathi" was the replica of his story script registered under the title "SPM". The story line of both the scripts are one and the same. So, the plaintiff lodged complaint with the 3rd defendant. The complaint was rejected by the third defendant vide letter dated 21.11.2014 informing the plaintiff that there is no similarity between the plaintiff's script and the feature film "Kathi".
(3.)The third defendant did not compare both the scripts before concluding that there is no similarity. Hence, the plaintiff has prayed to declare the third defendant letter dated 21.11.2014 as null and void.


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