Bombay HC Rejects Interim Relief to VFX Studio Trishul Media in ‘Adipurush’ Credit Dispute

The Bombay High Court recently rejected interim relief to Trishul Media Entertainment, a VFX studio, claiming entitlement to credits in the multi-lingual film ‘Adipurush’.

A single bench of Justice RI Chagla rejected the plea after extensive deliberation on the matter.

In an earlier instance on June 16, Trishul had informed the Court that it wouldn’t seek an urgent stay on the film’s release. The basis of Trishul’s case was rooted in the VFX studio agreements it had entered into with Retrophiles Private Limited, the film’s producer.

Following the theatrical release of the film, Trishul presented another interim application before the High Court, seeking individual credits for its employees who had contributed to the project. Trishul contended that these individuals qualified as “authors” and thus deserved appropriate acknowledgment.

Retrophiles and T-series, in response, contended that Trishul’s lawsuit had been brought forth by the company itself, rather than by the employees in a representative capacity. They advocated for the dismissal of the suit solely on this premise. Notably, they emphasized that due credit had already been accorded to the company within the film.

After a thorough hearing of the arguments from all parties involved, the plea for interim relief was declined.

In addition to the above, Trishul’s application also sought the settlement of outstanding dues amounting to ₹4,77,31,321, encompassing damages incurred by the VFX company. The application, filed by advocates Gandhar Raikar and Sanket Singh, highlighted concerns that Retrophiles Private Limited might have been established solely for the film’s production and could potentially be dissolved post-release. Allegedly, during discussions pertaining to the settlement of dues, Retrophiles had refused to attribute any credits to Trishul.

Previously, Trishul had indicated that it would face challenges in enforcing its rights and securing the payment of dues after the film’s release. The Court has now provided Retrophiles with a designated period to respond to Trishul’s plea concerning the settlement of dues.