In what comes as a significant reprieve for Hindi cinema enthusiasts and producers alike, the High Court of Karnataka has set aside a temporary injunction from a Mysuru civil court that had halted the screening of the Hindi film Maidaan in any language or format, including electronic, magnetic, and over-the-top (OTT) media platforms. The decision arrived promptly on April 11, enabling the film to continue its worldwide theatrical run.
Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar granted the interim order in response to a petition filed by Boney Kapoor of Bayview Projects Private Limited, Mumbai, who is one of the movie’s producers. This order came just days after the Mysuru court’s temporary injunction on April 8, which was based on a lawsuit from scriptwriter C.R. Anil Kumar of Mysuru, alleging copyright violation by the movie’s producers.
Kapoor’s plea for an expedited hearing was lodged on the morning of April 11, despite courts being closed for the Eid holiday. The urgent request was based on the assertion that the Mysuru court had delivered its order for a temporary injunction at the last possible moment on April 10, which left the petitioner with no time to react or appeal, as the movie had already begun being screened globally.
Represented by senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, Kapoor argued that the temporary injunction was insufficiently justified, branding it a ‘cryptic, laconic, non-speaking, and unreasoned order,’ devoid of the requisite application of mind that the Code of Civil Procedure mandates for granting a temporary injunction.
The advocate also emphasized that the injunction failed to provide a concrete basis for the plaintiff’s prime facie case or demonstrate why the balance of convenience was tipped in the plaintiff’s favor. Nor did it offer any indication of the irreparable injury and hardship the plaintiff would suffer, warranting the urgent and unusual step of proceeding without notifying the defendants—Kapoor and other co-producers like Zee Studios.
Kapoor’s petition pointed out that the Mysuru court had based its judgment on the mere fact that the movie’s trailer had been released over a month and a half before the lawsuit was filed, without any substantial evidence to support the claim of purported copyright infringement.
Maidaan is a film that captures the essence of India’s golden age of football during the 1950s and ’60s, focusing particularly on the life of revered coach Syed Abdul Rahim. In the movie, Bollywood star Ajay Devgn portrays the role of this iconic football coach.
With the High Court order in place, the path is now clear for Maidaan to continue drawing audiences, not only in theaters but across various viewing platforms. This decision underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing competing interests within the film industry—protecting the rights of copyright holders while ensuring that movies, as significant cultural assets, are available for public consumption and enjoyment. It also highlights the nuances involved in copyright disputes, where claims of infringement must be carefully assessed against the evidence presented to ensure that justice prevails in a way that serves the broader interests of creativity, the film industry, and the general public.
