It’s happening more and more often now with Bollywood films — just before a film’s release, there’s a lawsuit, because someone has a problem with something in the film.
Director Dinesh Vijan’s film Raabta was accused of plagiarism by the makers of the Telugu film Magadheera a few weeks before its June 9 release. Other recent films that got caught in a legal tangle just days before their release are Behen Hogi Teri (police complaint filed over the lead character’s Lord Shiva get-up); Guest Iin London (sued for allegedly being an unauthorised sequel); and Jolly LLB 2 (accused of mocking lawyers).
Bollywood filmmakers strongly voice their objection to this growing practice. “I see Bollywood and the southern film industries as one industry, and I’ve directed films before, and I’ve never copied anything,” says Vijan. “These things don’t need to go to court. I had offered a screening of Raabta for the makers of Magadheera, but they didn’t see it. [The issue] could’ve been dealt with a month earlier had they watched the film. A lawsuit does create panic and it’d be very silly if I say that it doesn’t bother me.”
Jolly LLB 2, starring Akshay Kumar in the titular role, was accused of mocking the Indian judicial system and a legal notice was sent to the film’s producers just a few days before the release. In an earlier interview, Akshay said, “I wonder how each time a film is made, some legal controversy crops up just five days before its release. How come no one thinks of filing a case a few months before?”
Rajkummar Rao, the lead actor of Behen Hogi Teri, appeals to everyone to watch a film before jumping to the conclusion that it hurts religious sentiments. “It’s very unfortunate when something like this happens. We never intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments or create a controversy while making a film,” says Rajkummar. The film’s poster showed him dressed as Shiva; but that was because the film’s character is someone who dresses up as the deity at religious gatherings. The poster angered some people so much that they went to the police and an arrest warrant was issued against the film’s makers.
The actor says, “Watch the whole film first and see it in the right context and then decide. Luckily, we have a really good judicial system in place to take care of such things.”
After spending so much time in Lucknow for #BareillyKiBarfi, m back in the city for #BehenHogiTeri. Thank u Lucknow 4 so much love & warmth. pic.twitter.com/DpTCmw8ody
— Rajkummar Rao (@RajkummarRao) December 10, 2016
It’s all a ploy to cash in on the panic of filmmakers, says director Madhur Bhandarkar. “Some people turn up at the last moment to try their luck,” says Bhandarkar. “I’ve faced a lot of trouble with my films and it mostly happens when the film is generating a lot of buzz. They know that producers and directors would go into panic mode and might agree to come to some settlement to avoid negative publicity.”
On the subject of negative publicity just before a film’s release, trade analyst Atul Mohan says that it sometimes does a film good. “There’s an element of curiosity, since people want to see what’s in the film,” he says, adding, “Once a film is certified, I don’t think anyone has the right to claim that something is wrong. When people come [with a lawsuit] 20 days before a film’s release, it’s mental trauma for the makers, who must then get past this problem. This is just mental harassment.”
