Sippy withdraws petition from SC on stay of release of Sholay

Bollywood producer Ramesh Sippy today withdrew his petition from the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the release of the 1975 blockbuster movie Sholay's 3D version made by his nephew Sasha over a copyright dispute.

A bench of justices A R Dave and Dipak Misra allowed him to withdraw the plea after he submitted that the petition has become infructuous as the movie has been released today.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Sippy, submitted that he would agitate his case in a suit and would claim damages.

Sippy had moved the apex court challenging the Bombay High Court's order refusing to stay the release of the film.

Ramesh Sippy, who had directed the original movie Sholay, is in dispute with his nephew Sasha over the rights of the film which was released in 1975.

Sasha, who is the son of Ramesh Sippy's brother Vijay Sippy, had recently announced making a 3D version of the movie which is to be distributed by Jayantilal Gada.

In the high court, Sasha had argued Sippy had no rights over the movie and he could not oppose the production and release of Sholay's 3D version.

Sasha and other members of the Sippy family contended they were associated with Sholay Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd formed in 2000.

They said Ramesh Sippy never made any copyright claims when their company had dealt with and commercially exploited Sholay's rights several times earlier.

Sasha and others had contended that in the year 2000, Sholay Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd came into being and rights of the movie were transferred to this company by Sippy Films Pvt Ltd through a gift deed.