Ayushmann Starrer Bala accused of Copyright Violation! Film to be postponed?

Ayushmann Khurrana has been basking in success for his recent release - Dream Girl. The actor is being praised for his performance in this critically acclaimed drama.

But, his upcoming release has been roped into the spectrum of controversy. The makers of Bala have been accused of copyright violation by a National Award-winning director Praveen Morchhale. He revealed that the idea of a premature balding man was conceived and registered by him first in 2007. 

A case against Maddock Films and writer Niren Bhatt has also been registered in the Bombay High Court under the Copyright Act 1957.

Considering his accusations, the Ayushamann Khurrana starrer might fall into trouble and there's also a possibility of the film being postponed. 

The reports in Times of India quoted the director saying, “I read a news article on 'Bala' being a satirical comedy about premature balding, which was an idea I had conceived in 2005. I worked on it for two years and registered the story with the Film Writers’ Association (FWA) in 2007. After compiling information from various sources, I have arrived at the conclusion that Bala is very similar to my story and screenplay.” 

Meanwhile, Praveen admitted never meeting the makers of Bala. He emphasized on the fact that this can't be a mere coincidence and explained, “But the case isn’t about meeting or narrating the film to them. I’ve met hundreds of people and narrated my story to them, anyone could have put the idea in their minds. Since I have registered my concept and script, I can narrate it to as many people as I want, nobody can copy it.”

Furthermore, he also added that his script was called ‘Mr Yogi’, and like 'Bala', it was a satirical comedy on the struggles and hardships faced in such situations. He mentioned, “Even my script was about how the protagonist copes up with this unique and bizarre scenario.”

Praveen clearly insisted - he isn’t doing this for publicity or money. “If my idea or screenplay has been borrowed, completely or even partly, they will be liable to injunction from the court. This case is filed to make a statement that you cannot just take off on somebody’s copyrighted idea or screenplay,” he asserted.

Maddock has denied the allegations. “Maddock is not aware of any case being filed against it by Mr Morchhale and denies that he has anything to do with its film Bala. Nobody from Maddock has ever met with Mr Morchhale or is even aware of him being associated with a story of a bald man,” read an official statement from the production house.

Praveen Morchhale has bagged three national awards for his film ‘Walking with the Wind’ in 2017.