Amitabh Bachchan in a still from Bhoothnath Returns
New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court today askedthe producers and writers of Bhoothnath Returns, starring Amitabh Bachchan, to try to settle the dispute with a Hindiwriter who is alleging the flick is based on his short story.
"The petitioner is saying the heart of the movie, whichis the trailer, is the complete adaptation of his literarywork. Just have a meeting with him (writer) and see whethersomething can be done or not. Be truthful," a bench of ActingChief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul said.Senior advocate Pratibha Maninder Singh, appearing forSushant Supriya, Hindi short story writer and poet, referredto nine expressions from the trailer of the movie, which isscheduled to hit theatres across the country on April 11 andsaid they have been copied from short story Bhootnath of thewriter published in 2007 in Hindi magazine Aaj Kal.
"I am not seeking injunction against the release of themovie," the lawyer said.
"Then what do you want?," the bench asked."I want the credit," the lawyer said and referred to thereviews of 2008 flick Bhoothnath, which also had Mr Bachchan inlead role, in support of her submission.
"It is notable even the first Bhoothnath film was a copyof the The Canterville Ghost, a short story by Oscar Wilde."The defendants have never made an original film on thetheme of a friendly ghost, and have not done so in the case ofthe infringing film as well," the petition said.
The lawyer said Bhoothnath Returns is not the sequel ofearlier movie Bhoothnath.
"Unlike most sequels, the infringing film is based on anentirely new storyline from the first Bhoothnath film, and hasno relationship with the first film, especially in terms ofthe supporting cast.
"Even the central character of the infringing film has norelationship with the central character of the first Bhoothnathfilm. This demonstrates that the infringing film hasappropriated the Plaintiffs original literary work," thepetition said.
The bench ordered the listing of the appeal for hearing tomorrow after the counsel for Sushant Supriya, Hindi short story writer and poet, said the film, scheduled to hit theatres across the country on April 11, is based on his work.
Bhoothnath Returns, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is a horror-cum-comedy film and is a sequel to the 2008 flick Bhoothnath. The film has been produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ravi Chopra and co-produced by Ajay Kapoor.
Besides Mr Bachchan, Boman Irani and Shahrukh Khan will be seen in supporting roles.Ranbir Kapoor also has a cameo in the film.
"The petitioner is saying the heart of the movie, whichis the trailer, is the complete adaptation of his literarywork. Just have a meeting with him (writer) and see whethersomething can be done or not. Be truthful," a bench of ActingChief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul said.Senior advocate Pratibha Maninder Singh, appearing forSushant Supriya, Hindi short story writer and poet, referredto nine expressions from the trailer of the movie, which isscheduled to hit theatres across the country on April 11 andsaid they have been copied from short story Bhootnath of thewriter published in 2007 in Hindi magazine Aaj Kal.
"I am not seeking injunction against the release of themovie," the lawyer said.
"Then what do you want?," the bench asked."I want the credit," the lawyer said and referred to thereviews of 2008 flick Bhoothnath, which also had Mr Bachchan inlead role, in support of her submission.
"It is notable even the first Bhoothnath film was a copyof the The Canterville Ghost, a short story by Oscar Wilde."The defendants have never made an original film on thetheme of a friendly ghost, and have not done so in the case ofthe infringing film as well," the petition said.
The lawyer said Bhoothnath Returns is not the sequel ofearlier movie Bhoothnath.
"Unlike most sequels, the infringing film is based on anentirely new storyline from the first Bhoothnath film, and hasno relationship with the first film, especially in terms ofthe supporting cast.
"Even the central character of the infringing film has norelationship with the central character of the first Bhoothnathfilm. This demonstrates that the infringing film hasappropriated the Plaintiffs original literary work," thepetition said.
The bench ordered the listing of the appeal for hearing tomorrow after the counsel for Sushant Supriya, Hindi short story writer and poet, said the film, scheduled to hit theatres across the country on April 11, is based on his work.
Bhoothnath Returns, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is a horror-cum-comedy film and is a sequel to the 2008 flick Bhoothnath. The film has been produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ravi Chopra and co-produced by Ajay Kapoor.
Besides Mr Bachchan, Boman Irani and Shahrukh Khan will be seen in supporting roles.Ranbir Kapoor also has a cameo in the film.
