Another Obstacle For Prithviraj-Starrer 'Kaduva' As Plea Before Kerala High Court Contests Its OTT Release

Prithviraj-starrer Malayalam movie 'Kaduva' faces yet another challenge as a new petition before Kerala High Court alleges that the movie was released in theatres violating court orders. The plea has thereby sought to block the OTT release of the film. 

Justice V.G Arun on Tuesday admitted the plea and issued notice to the respondents. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the OTT release of the action entertainment has been scheduled for August 4. 

The movie has been hounded by legal issues since the announcement of its release. Initially, the petitioner had launched a civil suit seeking a bar on its publication alleging that the protagonist in the movie is a portrayal of him and that the story itself was an adaptation of his life. He had alleged that the movie contains embellishments and additions to real-life incidents, some of which are per se defamatory to him and his family members. 

He had managed to obtain an interim order of injunction against its release but this was short-lived as the injunction application was later dismissed; an appeal against this order met with the same fate.

Upon coming to know that the movie has been presented for examination and certification under the Cinematograph Act, the petitioner had thereby submitted an objection against the grant of certification to the movie under Section 5A.

The High Court had accordingly directed the CBFC to take a decision on the objection after hearing the parties on July 4. The CBFC found that the scenes objected to by the applicant would only be relatable to him if the central character is named Kuruvachan. Thereby, it had demanded that the name of the protagonist character be modified. 

Accordingly, the movie debuted in theatres on July 7.

The fresh petition which has been filed through Advocate Kodoth Sreedharan has been moved by the same petitioner alleging that the name has not been changed as per the direction. It has been argued that in the versions of the movie that were shown in Indian theatres, the protagonist's name had been changed to Kuriyachan.

However, according to the complaint, the name Kuruvachan was still used in the version that was being screened overseas. To support his claims, the petitioner has also furnished documentation of the film's screenings in the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

Thereby, he has prayed that the OTT release of the film be suspended.

Meanwhile, director Shaji Kailas and writer Jinu Abraham have both denied the contention that the movie is based on the petitioner's life and insisted that it is a fictional story.

Case Title: Jose Kuruvinakkunnel v. Union of India & Ors