Makers of Ramayana Issue Legal Warning Over Pirated Clips and Court Orders

Legal Notice Issued

The makers of Ramayana: Part 1, also known internationally as Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, have issued a strong warning against people recording the film inside theatres and sharing clips online. With the film running in cinemas since November 5, the team raised concerns over unauthorised footage circulating on social media and messaging platforms. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash in the lead roles. The official social media handles shared a legal notice addressing the issue.

Court Orders and Penalties

The notice refers to two recent Bombay High Court orders from November 2 and November 6, 2026, in commercial IP suit number 37230 of 2026. These orders restrict all persons from recording, uploading, sharing or communicating the film without permission. The makers pointed out that such actions involve copyright violations and could invite criminal charges. The notice states that doing so is a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment and a fine under the Copyright Act 1957, the Cinematograph Act 1952, the BNS 2023 and the IT Act 2000, along with contempt of court. Offenders face criminal, civil and contempt proceedings without further notice.

Unauthorised Footage and Cast

The team asked people who already uploaded footage to take it down immediately, warning that those found sharing clips will be reported to authorities and platforms. Meanwhile, a clip from an international version showing an extended fight sequence after Surpanakha's nose is cut off has caught social media attention, alongside Sunny Deol's post-credit appearance as Lord Hanuman. The film's ensemble cast includes Namit Malhotra as producer, alongside Ravie Dubey, Indira Krishna, Arun Govil, Vivek Oberoi, Sonal Jha, Lara Dutta, Kunal Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh and Kajal Aggarwal. The second part is scheduled for a Diwali release.

Context

The distribution of unauthorized theatre recordings on social media remains a major challenge for major film releases in India, leading production houses to increasingly rely on commercial copyright lawsuits and strict legal notices. Legal teams frequently secure pre-emptive John Doe or Ashok Kumar orders from high courts to compel internet service providers and social media platforms to quickly take down pirated content. Such measures aim to protect box office revenues during the crucial opening weeks of high-budget cinematic productions.