Rahi Anil Barve, director of the critically acclaimed film 'Tumbbad,' has issued a strong caution to first-time filmmakers in the Hindi film industry regarding the handling of intellectual property rights (IPR) and fees. He talked about the importance of understanding legal contracts before signing with production studios, as these aspects are often not taken seriously.
Barve’s warning comes shortly after he announced he would not be involved in the sequel to 'Tumbbad,' a project recently announced by the film’s lead actor and producer, Sohum Shah, following the film's September 13 re-release.
Released in 2018, 'Tumbbad' marked Barve's debut as a director. He wrote the film, which was inspired by a story from Marathi author Narayan Dharap. Barve first heard of Dharap’s tale through a friend in 1993, and it later became the foundation for his haunting and visually stunning film.
What Rahi Anil Barve said
Offering advice to aspiring filmmakers, Barve took to Instagram and urged them to remain vigilant about their creative rights.
“Be cautious when making your first film. In Bollywood, intellectual property rights (IPR) and first-timer's fees are often treated as a joke in studio's legal contracts. Many struggling artists, desperate to get their projects off the ground, fail to grasp the seriousness of these issues. Some can't even afford a basic lawyer to help them understand the terms... Please be protective of your intellectual property rights before signing any contracts in the future," Barve wrote in his post.
The filmmaker, currently working on the web series 'Gulkanda Tales' and 'Raktabramhand,' mentioned that several creators he has collaborated with have encountered similar issues, leading to substantial financial losses.
“In the short term, we are exploited for very little, but in the long run, we end up losing far more than we can afford,” Barve added.
Sohum Shah on reports of rift between him and Barve
Addressing speculation of a rift between him and Barve, Sohum Shah, in a recent interview with India Today, denied any conflict.
“There are no issues at all. We have been trying to make Tumbbad 2 for the longest time. We were not able to crack the script in the writing stage. We are working with Yogesh Chandekar, the writer of Andhadhun, and Monica O My Darling. We have finally got it. As for Rahi, he has been working on mega shows like Gulkanda Tales and Rakt Bramhand. He has been working on those massive projects for a few years now. Recently, we had a screening and Rahi was there. He was the one who designed Vinayak's (his character) look. Whenever we are making Tumbbad 2, and we need him, he will be there. And I think it's vice versa, as I would always be there for him when he needs me,” he told India Today.
About Tumbbad
'Tumbbad,' produced by Sohum Shah Films, is a horror-fantasy set in a remote village in Maharashtra. The story follows Vinayak Rao, played by Shah, as he becomes consumed by greed in his pursuit of a hidden treasure guarded by a fearsome entity, Hastar.