Bhagam Bhag pay royalty to Malyalam film maker

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Conceding that to-be-released Hindi film ‘Bhagam Bhag’ is a remake of Malayalam film `Mannar Mathai Speaking’, actor Suniel Shetty and others have reached an out of court settlement for Rs 75 lakhs over the alleged copyright violation dispute.

Accordingly the suit filed by Mani Kappan, producer of the Malayalam film, against Shetty and other producers of ‘Bhagam Bhag’ was withdrawn today, Kappan’s counsel Majid Memon told PTI.

“We have received Rs 75 lakhs by demand draft as royalty for Hindi remake of `Mannar Mathai Speaking, so in the circumstances Mani has no objection to the release of Bhagam Bhag, slated to hit the screen on December 22,” Memon added.

Last week, Justice S F Vajifdar of Bombay High Court had issued notices to actor-producer Suniel Shetty who owns Popcorn Motion Pictures and Raj Mehta of Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision, both being the producers of `Bhagam Bhag’.

Besides Shetty and Mehta, other defendents were ‘Bhagam Bhag’s’ director Priyadarshan and story-screenplay writer Neeraj Vora.

The suit, filed by Mani Kappan, alleged that ‘Bhagam Bhag’ was a copy of the Malayam film and no permission from the latter’s producers was obtained to make the Hindi film.

The plaintiffs argued that they were in process of remaking “Mannar Mathai Speaking” in Telugu considering that the Malayalam feature was a box office hit.

The plaintiffs said they learnt from the website of defendents and television advertisements that story, screen play and presentation of ‘Bhagam Bhag’ was similar to that of “Mannar Mathai Speaking”.

— PTI

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