The legal tussle over the digital release rights of the movie “Animal” reached the premises of the Delhi High Court after Cine1 Studios Private Limited, a co-producer of the film, initiated a lawsuit against Super Cassettes Industries Private Limited, popularly known as T-Series. The dispute centers around the alleged breach of contractual terms and unauthorized OTT platform release plans for the star-studded movie featuring Ranbir Kapoor.
The court filing by Cine1 Studios claims that an acquisition agreement, set out on September 11, 2019, a subsequent letter from October 13, 2021, and an amendment agreement dated August 2, 2022, were the basis of the partnership between Cine1 Studios and T-Series regarding the production and distribution of “Animal.” According to the detailed agreements, both parties would hold a 35 percent stake in the film’s ‘Derivative Rights’ and ‘Intellectual Property Rights,’ with the same percentage allocated to profit-sharing.
Allegations have surfaced in the plaintiff’s suit pointing towards Super Cassettes’ conduct, accusing them of multiple infringements of the agreement. Cine1 Studios contends that T-Series proceeded with the film’s release, promotion, and the incurrence of associated expenses without their consent, a move they say sidestepped the agreed-upon partnership framework.
Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Cine1 Studios, spotlighted the lack of transparency and alleged financial impropriety by T-Series, noting that revenues from the film’s box office performance had not been disclosed nor shared with Cine1 Studios. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges that T-Series did not seek their approval before launching promotional content such as pre-teasers and trailers.
In a swift legal response, Senior Advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for T-Series, shed light on the August 2022 amendment, asserting that Cine1 Studios relinquished all intellectual and derivative rights to the film for a sum of Rs 2.6 crores. Justice Sanjeev Narula has reserved the case for further examination, scheduling the next hearing and underscoring the importance of the presence of Cine1 Studios’ representatives in court.
The lawsuit details the defendant’s actions of entering into agreements with Netflix India for internet exploitation rights and Sony Pictures Networks India for satellite broadcast rights. T-Series’ failure to disclose these arrangements to their co-producers has fueled the ongoing conflict.
The courtroom battle unfolds as “Animal” continues to captivate audiences with its theatrical run that commenced on December 1. The Sandeep Reddy Vanga-directed feature, graced with a talented cast including Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, and Triptii Dimri alongside Ranbir Kapoor, remains a commercial success, having garnered substantial box office traction, despite its ‘A’ certification and extended runtime of over three hours.
This recent lawsuit emphasizes the complexities and challenges surrounding digital release strategies in today’s cinematic landscape, where pre-release deals and platform streaming rights can result in friction between production entities. The Delhi High Court’s forthcoming decisions will be pivotal in delineating the contractual obligations and protecting the respective rights of both Cine1 Studios and T-Series regarding the contentious OTT release of “Animal.” The film industry, along with its audience, awaits the court’s verdict with bated breath, as it will likely set a significant precedent for future collaboration agreements and digital content distribution.
(With inputs from ANI)
