The much awaited Rajinikanth starrer, Lingaa, has run into yet another controversy with a producer claiming in the Madras High Court that the story is a copy of a Telugu film.
Kartheeka, representing M/s Balaji Studios Private Ltd., Saligramam, Chennai, said that in 2010, the firm purchased the story rights to remake a Telugu film, Indra, starring Chiranjeevi and Sonali Bendre.
The petitioner said the storyline of Indra was about a hero who makes a lot of sacrifice, including losing his property, and leaves his village so that a reservoir is built. But he returns to take revenge on those who had killed his family members.
The petitioner alleged that the main storyline of this film was copied by Lingaa director K.S. Ravikumar and the production company. She urged the High Court to restrain the production house from releasing the movie till the copyright infringement issue is sorted out in the court.
However, Mr. Ravikumar, denied the allegations. He said it was open to every story writer to invent any story in respect of any reservoir or dam.
Justice R. Subbiah refused to stay the release of the movie and adjourned the matter to December 12.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ravikumar filed a counter in the city civil court in response to a case filed by P. Sakthivel, who claimed that Lingaa ’s storyline was copied from the script of his movie, Uyir Anai, based on the life of Colonel John Pennycuick, a British engineer behind the construction of the Mullaperiyar dam.
In his counter, Mr. Ravikumar said the life of Pennycuick was not anyone’s personal property. The case has been adjourned to December 11.