Amitabh Bachchan Starrer Jhund Faces Legal Action, Recieves Stay Order Over Copyright Violations

Legal action has been taken against Sairat helmer Nagraj Manjule’s upcoming film Jhund starring Amitabh Bachchan. Stay order on the release of Jhund has been imposed in India, abroad, and digital platforms by the Telangana High Court. It is scheduled for hearing on May 28th. The lawsuit has been filed by a Hyderabad-based filmmaker Nandi Chinni Kumar who alleges copyright infringement 

Jhund is a film based on the story of Vijay Barse, coach and founder of the NGO 'Slum Soccer Foundation'. Vijay motivated slum children to play football or soccer and fend off any bad habits. Among other players, he was also the trainer of Akhilesh Paul, a gangster turned slum soccer player.

The story depicting Vijay Barse's life would be incomplete without showing Akhilesh Paul, who went to play slum soccer as the Indian captain. Nandi Chinni Kumar declares that he has bought the entire copyright of Akhilesh Paul’s story, who has apparently now told that he sold him the rights only for a documentary and not a feature film. In addition to this, Nandi claims, the producers of ‘Jhund’ have informed him that they have got rights of Akhilesh Paul's story from the player himself, but are yet to notify anything to him in writing.

In an interview with IANS, Nandi Chinni Kumar said, I have bought the exclusive copyright of Akhilesh Paul, who is a don turned slum soccer player and went on to play slum soccer as Indian captain. He was motivated by his coach Vijay Barse. Now, Nagraj Manjule ji is making a film on the real-life story of Vijay Barse. Barse has sold the right to make a film on his life story to T-Series, who are the producers of the film. Akhilesh Paul informs me in 'reply legal notice' that he has sold the rights to make a film on his life to Nagraj Manjule, which is nothing but a breach of contract. He also told me that he never sold me the rights to make a feature film on his life. Rather, he sold it to me for making a documentary”

The Hyderabad based filmmaker also told that director Nagraj Manjule, producers Savitaraj Hiremath and Shiv Chanana (T-Series) told me over a telephonic conversation that they have bought the rights from Akhilesh Paul, but they have till now not shared anything with me in writing. Now they are denying it saying they didn't buy any rights from Akhilesh Paul"

 Kumar added "The producers and director Nagraj Manjule (of Jhund) have suppressed the facts in the legal notice that they received my emails and that they bought the rights from Vijay Barse. On contrary, they are saying that they are making a film from public domain material, which makes the copyright infringement case devoid of merit. I seek a stay on the film's release in theatre as well as OTT platforms."

As per reports, Amitabh Bachchan and Sairat director, Nagraj Manjule have wrapped up their film as there is a stay order on the film in both theatre and OTT platforms. The makers of Jhund have also filed a lawsuit before the Telangana court to not to pass any judgment in this case without hearing them first, reports timesofindia.com. The report further states that the filmmakers have told the court that the movie is based on the life of Vijay Barse and not Akhilesh Paul after receiving notice from the court.