Varma barred from using Sholay in title

MUMBAI: It’s official now. The makers of Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay will have to come up with a new title and a new name for the character of Gabbar Singh in his remake of the original classic.


 


The producers of the original film – Sippy Films Pvt Ltd and Sholay Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd have sought an interim injunction from the Delhi High Court to Ram Gopal Verma and the production house K Sera Sera against the use of the names Sholay, Gabbar and Gabbar Singh in their movie.


 


“We have sought an interim injunction from the Delhi High Court to Ram Gopal Verma and the production house K Sera Sera against the use of the names Sholay, Gabbar and Gabbar Singh in their movie,” says Sippy Films Pvt Ltd director and grandson of G P Sippy Sascha Sippy.


 


The producers’ petition claims the script and screenplay of Sholay is original literary works, protected under sections 14 and 51 of the Copyright Act of 1957. They maintain they have registered the three contentious names “under the statutory provisions of both the Copyright Act and the Trademark Act 1999.”


 


“We have sent the suit to K Sera Sera managing director Parag Sanghvi, Ram Gopal Varma, Madhu Varma, Ram Gopal Varma Productions, Varma Corporation and Ajit Sippy,” adds Sascha.


 


“We had received the notice and we have also send a notice to them claiming we are not connected to this said movie,” says Sanghvi.


 


“If Parag Sanghvi, the managing director of K Sera Sera is claiming that he is not connected then they have to prove it legally. Regarding Adlabs producing it, we did not know about it when we were going to court,” says Sascha.


 

Ram Gopal Varma was not available for the comments. However, Ravi Prakash publicity head of Ram Gopal Varma said, “We have not yet received the notice from them. Let the notice come then only we will give the answer.”

Johnny Vaz

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