Delhi High Court Probes Sourav Ganguly's Claims Against Film 'Doosra'
Court Orders Review of 'Doosra' Amid Ganguly's Lawsuit
In a recent development, the Delhi High Court has requested former cricketer Sourav Ganguly to pinpoint specific segments of the film Doosra that he claims violate his personality rights. Justice Tejas Karia has instructed the defendants to provide a pen drive containing the film, which narrates a fictional tale of a middle-class girl from Rajasthan inspired by events related to Ganguly.
The court has scheduled a hearing for Ganguly's lawsuit against the filmmakers on November 2, urging the plaintiffs to compile a detailed table outlining the timestamps of the disputed scenes along with their respective objections. The court expressed its intention to review this material over the weekend.
In addition to Ganguly, Luv Films LLP, which is working on a biopic about the cricketer, is also involved in the lawsuit, alleging infringement of his contractual rights by Doosra.
The court has requested the plaintiffs to submit the script of their upcoming film Dada in a sealed envelope, along with an explanation of how the defendants' film infringes on their contractual rights.
The plaintiffs' legal team has sought an interim injunction against the defendants, even after Doosra was released in theaters last week, noting that the film has not yet appeared on OTT platforms.
The counsel emphasized that the film exploits Ganguly's image without his consent, particularly focusing on the iconic NatWest match from 2002 after the intermission.
Defendants' counsel countered that they had obtained the necessary permissions from copyright holders for the sporting event clips used in the film, asserting that Ganguly is merely a source of inspiration for their narrative.
On October 23, the high court had instructed the makers of Doosra to respond to Ganguly's allegations regarding the infringement of his personality rights and to arrange a screening of the film.
Previously, on October 22, the court denied Ganguly's request to halt the theatrical release of Doosra.
About the Film 'Doosra'
Doosra: India’s Other Freedom Struggle is a sports drama directed by Abhinay Deo, featuring actors Plabita Borthakur, Ankur Vikal, and Samidha Guru.