In the ongoing saga of Bollywood film releases, an interesting legal battle is unfolding as Cine1 Studios Private Limited has taken Super Cassettes Industries Private Limited, commonly known as T-Series, to the corridors of Delhi High Court. At the heart of the dispute is the highly-anticipated Hindi movie ‘Animal,’ starring Ranbir Kapoor. The contention arises over the proposed release of the film on Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, which Cine1 Studios is seeking to halt through legal intervention.
Cine1 Studios, which co-produced ‘Animal,’ accused T-Series of breaching their contractual obligations by releasing the film on digital streaming platforms and satellite broadcasts without proper consultation and consent. Furthermore, the suit alleges financial misconduct by T-Series, including the failure to disclose the final production costs of the movie and denying Cine1 Studios their rightful share of profits.
According to the documents filed in the court, the two companies had entered into an array of agreements spanning from 2019 to 2022, which included clauses about ownership rights and profit-sharing. These agreements stipulated that both parties would hold 35 percent ownership over the film’s ‘Derivative Rights’ and ‘Intellectual Property Rights,’ with the plaintiff also entitled to an equivalent percentage of the profit share.
Despite these accords, Cine1 Studios claims that T-Series has not only excluded them from critical decision-making processes regarding the film’s release but has also shirked from granting them their contractual credits. Their grievances extend to how the film was promoted, the failing to secure a censor certificate jointly in both companies’ names, and lack of transparency in marketing strategies.
At the preliminary hearing, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi represented Cine1 Studios and laid out the allegations against T-Series. Opposing him was Senior Advocate Amit Sibal, counsel for T-Series, who argued that a contractual amendment made on August 2, 2022, led to Cine1 relinquishing their intellectual property and derivative rights in the film in exchange for INR 2.6 crores.
The Delhi High Court, under Justice Sanjeev Narula, acknowledged the arguments from both sides and scheduled a subsequent hearing, requesting Cine1 Studios’ counsel to further investigate the amendment in question. The plaintiff’s counsel reassured the court of their client’s presence at the next legal proceedings.
Adding another layer to the complexity, the suit highlights that T-Series has reached agreements with Netflix India and Sony Pictures Networks India for the film’s internet and satellite rights respectively—facts that were allegedly not communicated to Cine1 Studios.
‘Animal,’ helmed by director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, also features an ensemble cast including Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, and Triptii Dimri. Since its theatrical release on December 1, the movie has continued its successful run at the box office, causing quite a stir despite a runtime of 3 hours and 21 minutes and an adult certification (A certificate). The film’s box office performance signals a strong interest in its OTT release, making the ongoing legal tussle all the more significant.
As the battle unfolds, the industry and audiences alike are watching closely to see the impacts of this contention not just on ‘Animal,’ but also on the dynamics of film releases and the rights of co-producers in the evolving digital landscape of Indian cinema. The legal discourse at the Delhi High Court promises to be a defining moment for the Indian film industry and its contractual standards. With further developments still awaited, the trajectory of ‘Animal’s digital journey hangs in a balance dictated by a legal tug-of-war.
