Copyright case against Madhur Bhandarkar for movie 'Fashion'

A complaint against Bollywood filmmaker Madhur Bandarkar for allegedly "stealing" the "plot and idea" of his movie 'Fashion' from a book without giving credit to its author was today referred to a designated special court here dealing with copyright cases.

"The matter pertains to copyrights and there is a special court dealing with the Indian Copyright Act. So, I will transfer the case to that court," said Metropolitan Magistrate Colette Rashmi Kujur who had heard the case on five dates since January and had kept the matter for pronouncing order on summoning Bhandarkar.

Bhandarkar could not be contacted despite efforts. The court passed the order on a plea filed by Seema Seth, an actress-turned-author, who alleged the plot and idea of 'Fashion' was stolen by Bhandarkar from her book "El-Dorado" which was published three months prior to release of the film on October 29, 2008.

Seth said Bhandarkar had indulged in "clear-cut violation of the Copyright Act. She has also made Ronnie Screwala of UTV Motion Pictures a party in the case where she has sought compensation to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore.

"All the plot and the idea has been stolen from the said book wherein the story begins in Kolkata where an aspiring model wishes to go to Mumbai but her father opposes and mother supports," she told the court.

"Careful reading of the said book vis-a-vis the story of the said movie would conclude that all the story/script has been taken from the said book without my permission. The movie was a big success throughout India and other countries," she said.