Noted filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma who attempted a remake of the classic 1975 film Sholay has been ordered to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh for violating the exclusive copyright vested with the original film’s director Ramesh Sippy.
RGV’s remake was titled ‘Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag’ and was a huge flop and received negative reviews upon its release in 2007.
The Delhi High Court passed the order while hearing a lawsuit filed by Sascha Sippy, son and grandson of Vijay Sippy and G. P. Sippy respectively, who produced the original ‘Sholay’ back in 1975.
In his petition, Sascha alleged that the remakeRam Gopal Verma ki Aag’ violated the exclusive copyright held by the Sholay Media and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
The court observed that Varma and his production house copied portions from the original film without authorization of the owner of the original movie. It further observed that Varma and others “in the present case have intentionally and deliberately brought the movie in violation of plaintiffs’ exclusive moral rights of copyright.”
The Court imposed the fine of Rs.10 lakh as “punitive damages” on Varma, his production house M/S RGV Productions Pvt. Ltd. as well as Varma Corporation Ltd. and Madhu Varma. It also restrained them from using any character like ‘Gabbar’ or ‘Gabbar Singh’ from the original film.
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