Indian court rejects block on Drishyam 3 remake
Indian court rejects Rajkumar Theatres’ attempt to block Drishyam 3 Hindi remake starring Ajay Devgn, ruling its copyright claims lacked clarity.
The Madras High Court has rejected an attempt by Rajkumar Theatres to block the release of Drishyam 3, the Hindi remake starring Ajay Devgn. The production house had argued that it held exclusive or joint rights to the film’s Hindi version, but the court ruled that its claims lacked sufficient clarity at this stage.
Justice K Govindarajan Thilakavadi’s October 1 order noted that Rajkumar Theatres failed to prove it retained enforceable copyright over the Hindi remake rights. The court emphasized that the dispute hinges on conflicting agreements and transactions, requiring a full hearing rather than an interim injunction.
Rajkumar Theatres had sought to halt the film’s release through theaters, OTT platforms, and satellite TV under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The company claimed it secured exclusive Telugu remake rights for the Drishyam franchise in December 2013, including sequels.
However, Ashirvad Cinemas, director Jeethu Joseph, Star Studio 18, Panorama Studios and other respondents opposed the plea, arguing that Rajkumar Theatres had produced no document establishing a subsisting exclusive right to stop the Hindi version of the film. They pointed to a 2014 assignment to Viacom18 and a 2022 settlement, asserting that the Hindi sequel rights had already been transferred. The court observed that blocking the film’s release would disrupt third-party rights under these arrangements, requiring clearer evidence of infringement.
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The dispute centers on whether Rajkumar Theatres’ 2013 rights extended to Drishyam 3 or were superseded by later agreements. The court dismissed the interim stay, leaving the final ownership question unresolved. Senior Advocates K Ravi (for Rajkumar Theatres) and P S Raman (for Star Studio 18) represented the parties.
The film, directed by Abhishek Pathak, stars Devgn and Tabu. Its release had been set for October 2, but the court’s decision allows it to proceed without immediate legal interference.
Rajkumar Theatres’ Claims of Joint Ownership and Alleged Exclusion from Drishyam 3 Remake
The production house asserted it had paid the full ₹50 crore for the Hindi remake rights and that a June 2014 agreement with Wide Angle Creations established equal joint ownership of the copyright for the Hindi versions of the Drishyam films. Rajkumar Theatres said that by these agreements, it acquired exclusive Telugu remake rights for the original Drishyam film as well as its sequels.
