Remake row: Bombay HC restrains screening of Pushpaka Vimana

Kross Pictures has moved court against Kannada movie maker

‘Pushpaka Vimana,’ the 100th movie of Ramesh Aravind, has run into a rough weather as the Bombay High Court on Friday issued an ad-interim injunction restraining further exhibition and distribution of film over a remake controversy. Kross Pictures, a cross-border film and television production company, Mumbai, had moved the court against Vikhyath, the producer of ‘Pushpaka Vimana’ for violating remake norms and producing the movie in Kannada.

Kross Pictures holds exclusive rights of many international films including ‘Miracle in Cell No 7’, a Korean movie, by Lee Hwan-Kyung released in 2013. ‘Pushpaka Vimana’ is based on ‘Miracle in Cell No 7’. The movie directed by S Ravindranath completed 100 days in about 20 theatres. The court also restrained the exhibition and distribution of the movie in any manner or in any medium including cinema theatres, television, CDs/DVDs. The court directed Vikhyath not to award any rights in relation to satellite or telecast rights of the film for its exhibition.

The matter has been adjourned to April 12. Reacting to the court’s order, Vikhayth told DH: “There is some communication gap with Kross Pictures representatives. They want us to produce a document for having remake rights. I will be meeting them on April 6 in Mumbai and the issue would be sorted out the same day.”

Soon after the movie was released on January 6, 2017, critics had observed that ‘Pushpaka Vimana’ remains loyal to the original Korean version frame-by-frame in terms of remake. However, Vikhyath maintained: “Pushpaka Vimana is not a remake. We were inspired by four international films and produced the movie. We have thanked directors of all four films in titles. ”

“It is not just Pushpaka Vimana alone which is in trouble,” he said and added: “There are about 10 regional movies facing a similar legal battle with Kross Pictures. They sell remake rights of international films they hold to directors and producers of regional languages in India. Kross is worried that we might produce the movie in Tamil and Telugu.” 

When contacted, Ramesh Aravind said: “Producers and director approached me with a document of remake rights. They told me that they were inspired by two other films. There seems to be some communication gap regarding who holds the remake rights. Both parties should amicably sort out the issue.”

Vijay Sasnur had originally obtained remake rights from Kross in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu languages. Vikhyath and co-producers of Pushpaka Vimana are close friends of Sasnur. They bought the rights from Sasnur for Rs 10 lakh. Producers claim that they have a certificate issued by Sasnur selling the rights, said sources.