In an unexpected turn of events, the much-anticipated movie ‘Maidaan’, featuring Bollywood heavyweight Ajay Devgn, encountered a significant legal obstacle. A court in Mysore has imposed a stay on the film’s release following allegations of plagiarism by a writer from Karnataka.
The disputed film ‘Maidaan’, directed by Amit Sharma and produced by Boney Kapoor, premiered in cinemas amid much fanfare. However, the path to its debut has been marred by controversy. A report by News18 shed light on the allegation brought forth that ‘Maidaan’s’ plot, which is based on the life of Syed Abdul Rahim, a revered Indian football coach, was unlawfully appropriated from the script of Anil Kumar, the Karnataka-based writer in question.
Anil Kumar took to social media, using his LinkedIn account to outline his ordeal. He revealed the timeline of events that led up to the altercation, starting from 2010 when he began penning the story. In 2018, Anil Kumar posted about his script and its concept, which caught the attention of Sukhdas Suryavanshi, an ad director who subsequently invited him to Mumbai. According to Kumar, Suryavanshi expressed aspirations to connect him with Bollywood actor Aamir Khan. Although that meeting never transpired, Kumar handed over his story and secured registration with the Screen Writers Association.
The controversy surfaced when Anil Kumar got wind of ‘Maidaan’s’ impending release. Upon reviewing the teaser and public statements from the makers, Kumar felt the firm echo of his own work. He alleged that not only had his story been co-opted, but that the definitive essence had been altered for the film. To fortify his claim, Kumar mentioned that he had the entire chat history with Suryavanshi, who had a role in the making of ‘Maidaan’ as an assistant director.
Taking a stance against the alleged intellectual theft, Kumar sought legal recourse from the Principal district and sessions court in Mysore. In response to his accusation, the judiciary put a hold on the film’s distribution, with a follow-up hearing slated for April 24.
‘Maidaan’ draws its roots from the life of the illustrious coach Syed Abdul Rahim and his contributions to Indian football. The film includes performances by actors Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, and Rudranil Ghosh, boasting a cast that promises to bring depth and charisma to the narrative. The project, expected to light up theatre screens from April 11, 2024, represents a joint venture between Zee Studios and producers Boney Kapoor, Arunava Joy Sengupta, and Akash Chawla. The story’s screenplay and dialogues were crafted by Saiwyn Quadras and Ritesh Shah, respectively. AR Rahman infused life into the film’s score, with lyrics penned by Manoj Muntashir Shukla.
The allegations and subsequent legal impediment have thrown a wrench into ‘Maidaan’s’ release strategy, leaving its fate hanging in the balance. As the movie industry often faces similar disputes, this situation once again highlights the rigorous need for intellectual property rights enforcement and the importance of crediting original creators to maintain the integrity of storytelling within the cinematic realm. The film’s stakeholders, fans, and the broader film industry now await the upcoming court proceedings with bated breath, hoping for an amicable resolution to what has now become a high-profile case of alleged plagiarism in Bollywood.
