Rekha Mody takes Zee TV to court
(No Ratings Yet)It is a classic case of TRP-hijacking. Zee TVs prized serial Betiyaan, which went on air last week, has allegedly been plagiarised from another soap on the girl child Paraya Dhan which goes on air mid-October.
Apparently writer Rekha Mody offered the idea to Zee who put her on to Dheeraj Kumars company Creative Eye. Mody pulled out due to creative differences with Zee and Creative Eye, and went to STAR TV. And, now Rekha has sued Zee in the high court.
Zee has appropriated Rekhas plot, characterisations, everything. Its not fair. Theyve even taken our title Betiyaan. They sent us a notice but we decided not to fight for the title. But its wrong to take Rekhas concept and project. Paraya Dhan is Rekhas concept, Shailja Kejriwal, STAR Indias senior creative director, told IANS.
Zees spokesperson Ashish Kaul has another story to tell.
We had to protect our interests. We sent a communication to STAR informing them that the title Betiyaan is with us and that weve spent considerable time and money on the concept. Thankfully, STAR changed their title. The matter ends there for us.
As for Betiyaan being similar to Paraya Dhan - cant two channels think on similar lines? The biggest differentiation comes through the art of storytelling. Otherwise, the drama is all the same. When a producer approaches us, certain criteria have to be fulfilled. Were convinced Dheeraj Kumar holds the title rights of Betiyaan.
Ive no idea what STAR is making. Theyre masters of the game. Theyd never want their product to look similar to our product. I dont know how far Rekha Mody intends to take this. But for us the matter ends there.
Explaining the matter, Modi said: Zee is lying. Betiyaan is my concept, my serial. Ive ample proof. Zee had sent an injunction notice for Paraya Dhan to STAR. How did Zee know our serial was similar to theirs? I pulled out of Zee with Betiyaan because there were too many creative disputes. They imposed their writers on me. When I opted out they said theyre going ahead with my project without me.
I had worked for years on the project. I know about the struggle of the girl child. And I wanted to have my say. I first decided to make it for Rakhi Tandon, then Zee. Finally, I found my comfort level at STAR. How can a large corporate house like Zee be lying through their teeth?
They took my entire property. I left so many serials of Balaji Telefilms to concentrate on Betiyaan. Earlier, Zee and Creative Eye had done something similar to a serial called Jai Santoshi Maa. Im a very small writer. I dont have anyones backing. Zee and Dheeraj Kumar have lots of money to fight. I dont. I run my familys kitchen. But I wont let 10 powerful people grab my creativity and make it their own. Why do such things happen to poor weak writers like us?
— IANS
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