Pushpa 2 Leaked: As Allu Arjun-Starrer Falls Victim To Piracy, Here's How Much The Film Industry Lost Last Year

Pushpa 2 Leaked Online: The entertainment industry lost more than

Pushpa 2 Leaked Online: Pushpa: The Rule has been leaked online on several illegal websites that are known for being indulged in leaking movies ahead of their launch. As fans rush to the theatres to see Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandana in action, there are some who have chosen an illegal way to watch the movie at their homes without paying even a penny. The movie has been leaked on piracy websites like Tamilrockers, Filmyzilla, Movierulz, Ibomma, TamilYogi, and more. Incidents like this cost the entertainment industry a lot. 

People know that this is not right and against the law but still opt to do it due to the comfort and cost-effectiveness that it offers. Ultimately movie makers and the people working in the industry have to suffer. 

How Much Money Did Entertainment Industry Lose Last Year Due To Piracy?

The Indian entertainment sector faced a massive financial setback of Rs 22,400 crore in 2023 due to piracy, as revealed in a report. The study called for stricter regulations and collaborative measures to tackle the growing threat of piracy more effectively. As per The Rob Report by EY and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), 51 per cent of media consumers in India rely on pirated content, with streaming platforms accounting for the largest share at 63 per cent.

The report stated, "The size of India's piracy economy was Rs 22,400 crore in 2023, ranking fourth against the segment-wise revenue generated by India's Media and Entertainment industry. Of this, Rs 13,700 crore was generated from pirated content from movie theatres while Rs 8,700 crore was generated from OTT platforms' content. The potential GST losses of up to Rs 4,300 crore were estimated to have been incurred."

Rohit Jain, chairman of IAMAI's Digital Entertainment Committee, said, "The rapid growth of digital entertainment in India is undeniable, with filmed entertainment expected to reach Rs 14,600 crore by 2026. However, this potential is severely threatened by rampant piracy. It is imperative for all stakeholders --government bodies, industry players, and consumers--to unite in combating this issue."

Government Takes Action

A press release issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in November last year read, "With the film industry facing losses of up to Rs 20,000 crore every year due to piracy, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken strong steps to check film piracy in the country. After the Parliament passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 1952 during this year’s Monsoon Session, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has established an institutional mechanism of Nodal Officers to receive complaints against piracy and direct the intermediaries to take down pirated content on digital platforms."

It added, "As of now there is no institutional mechanism to directly take action on pirated filmic content except legal action under Copyright Act and IPC. With the proliferation of internet and almost everyone interested to watch filmic content for free, there has seen a boom in piracy. The above action would allow instant action by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in case of piracy and will provide relief to the industry."

The amendment enforces stringent penalties, including a minimum imprisonment of three months and a fine of Rs 3 lakh, which may extend to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 5 per cent of the audited gross production cost.