A Bengaluru court has recently overturned an interim ruling prohibiting the use of the title ‘Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye’ in a film to be released by Applebox Studios, the production company founded by actor and ex-Member of Parliament Divya Spandana.
Padma Prasad, City Civil and Sessions Judge, lifted the earlier order given in support of filmmaker SV Rajendra Singh Babu against the use of the title which he claimed to have used as a song title in his film ‘Bannada Gejje’.
“The ex-parte temporary injunction order dated February 16, 2023 is hereby vacated. For issues by June 1, 2023,” the Court directed.
The case registered by Babu was only against the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Jayadurga Movies, and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
It was his contention that he began making a Kannada feature film of the same name, featuring actors Ambareesh and Suhasini, and that 70% of it was completed. However, owing to Ambareesh’s death, the film was left unfinished.
Applebox Studios, on the other hand, stated in their application seeking impleadment and vacation of the stay and that the film had already been finished and would be released shortly.
It was also claimed that the film’s rights belonged to Sri Jagadguru Movies, not Babu, and that the rights had been legally transferred to them and formally registered with the KFCC.
The production company also claimed that the temporary injunction order was impeding their ability to release the film, and that if it is not lifted, they will suffer irreparable harm and loss.
The Court then lifted the stay, noting that the defendants had completed the film, which was about to be released, whereas the plaintiff’s film was still unfinished.
“As a result, this court believes that the plaintiff has failed to establish a prima facie case,” the Court stated.
