SC refuses to stay release of Rajinikanth’s film ‘Kaala’ over copyright claims

The apex court said "Everybody is anxiously waiting for the release of the movie (Kaala). We don't want to interfere with its release,"

Image grab: @dhanushkraja/ Twitter

 New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block the release the superstar Rajinikanth starrer Tamil film "Kaala". The apex court said that it cannot put on hold the screening just a day ahead of its release. Image grab: @dhanushkraja/ Twitter A vacation bench told petitioner K. Rajashekaran that he would be entitled to compensation if his plagiarism claim of his original story "Karikalan" was sustained. Rajashekaran had moved the top court challenging a Madras High Court decision to hear his plea against the release of the film on June 16. He had claimed that he had authored the fictional story about Chola King Karikalan when he was studying in Class 12. "Kaala", which is set to release on Thursday, is produced by Wonderbar Films with Pa. Ranjith as director and Rajinikanth in the lead. Petitioner's advocate Akash Kakade said his client had applied for the copyright which is valid for 60 years. He said the title of the film "Karikalan" was registered with the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce which was renewed for 10 years. Kakade said that in 1994 eight songs, which were to be used in the proposed film, were registered and released. But he could not go ahead with the making as he did not get dates from Rajinikanth and also faced a cash crunch. As per reports, the movie "Kaala" depicts a story of a man who flees from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, and goes on to become a powerful don in Dharavi, Mumbai. The film revolves around politics and the working class. In the teaser of the film, Kaala or Karikalan appears in a black shirt and dhoti as messiah of the common people, who fights to prtect the weaker section. (with input from agencies)