Delhi High Court seeks reply from film Doosra makers on Sourav Ganguly plea

Court Action

The Delhi High Court asked the makers of the movie Doosra to respond to a legal plea by former cricketer Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly filed a lawsuit alleging a violation of his personality rights in the film. Justice Vinod Kumar heard the matter while the court is shut for the Dussehra break and issued summons to the film producers, director, and distributor. The court stated that any decision on interim relief can only be made after the defendants file their replies.

Movie Release and Arguments

Doosra released in theatres on Friday after the high court previously refused to stay its release on Thursday. The defendants' senior counsel told the court that the film is not a biopic but a fictional story about a middle-class Rajasthani girl inspired by sporting events involving Ganguly. They also argued that a player cannot claim personality rights over clips from the 2002 NatWest series and that due permissions were taken from right-holders. Meanwhile, Ganguly and Luv Films LLP argued that no licence was taken from the cricketer and asked for a stay. The court asked the defendants to arrange a movie screening to check for personality rights violations and listed the case for October 29.

Plot and Makers

Set against the backdrop of India's 2002 NatWest Series victory over England, Doosra features the image of Sourav Ganguly celebrating at Lord's. The story follows a young girl named Tara who is inspired by his celebration to challenge rules in her conservative household. The film is produced by Masha Sajdeh and Rohan Sajdeh, with Neeta Shah as co-producer. Agnello Oswin Dias wrote the story and screenplay, and Ram Sampat composed the original score. The cast includes Plabita Borthakur, Ankur Vikal, Samidha Guru, Tvisha Seema, and Krishna Gokani.

Context

Personality rights protect a famous person's right to control the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness. Celebrities often take legal action when films or commercial products use their identity without permission.