Madras High Court Denies Interim Injunction in Copyright Dispute Over Film "Parasakthi", Court finds no prima facie evidence of copyright infringement in the script dispute between K.V. Rajendran and filmmaker Sudha Kongara.
News Report:
In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has dismissed an application for interim injunction sought by K.V. Rajendran, who alleged that his script "Chemmozhi" was plagiarized for the movie "Parasakthi" directed by Sudha Kongara. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, presiding over the case, concluded that there was no prima facie evidence of copyright infringement at this stage. The court emphasized that the balance of convenience did not favor the plaintiff and advised that damages could be pursued if infringement is established in the final judgment.
The applicant, K.V. Rajendran, claimed that his script, registered in 2010, was unlawfully used in the production of "Parasakthi." He sought to restrain the release and screening of the film and requested the formation of an expert committee to evaluate the alleged similarities between the two scripts. However, the court rejected these requests, noting that the plaintiff's plea for interim relief exceeded the scope of the original suit.
During the proceedings, the defendants, represented by senior counsels, argued that the plaintiff had delayed taking legal action, despite being aware of the film's production since late 2023. They also contended that the elements of the movie were independently conceived and bore no resemblance to the script "Chemmozhi."
The court's decision highlighted the importance of not hindering the release of a big-budget film without substantial evidence of infringement, considering the potential financial losses and impact on various stakeholders involved in the film's production. The judge indicated that the plaintiff could still seek damages if the final judgment proves his claims.
Furthermore, the court directed the fifth defendant to submit a report on the complaint filed by the plaintiff, which would be evaluated during the final hearing scheduled for January 28, 2026.
Bottom Line:
Copyright infringement - Plaintiff asserting that his script "Chemmozhi" was copied for the movie "Parasakthi" - Plaintiff's application for interim injunction to restrain screening of the movie and constitution of expert committee rejected - Court observed that the balance of convenience is not in favor of the plaintiff, and damages can be claimed if infringement is proved later.
Statutory provision(s): Copyright Act, 1957
K.V.Rajendran @ Varun Rajendran v. Sudha kongara, (Madras) : Law Finder Doc id # 2832924
