Drishyam 3, starring Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran and Jaideep Ahlawat, has become the subject of a legal dispute just days before its scheduled theatrical release on October 2. Chennai-based production house Rajkumar Theatres Pvt Ltd, owned by veteran actress Sripriya and her husband Rajkumar Sethupathy, has approached the Madras High Court over the film’s worldwide theatrical release and distribution.
The production house is seeking restrictions on the worldwide distribution and exploitation of the Hindi film, alleging that its release without authorization infringes upon its claimed adaptation rights and copyright interests connected with the Drishyam franchise.
Rajkumar Theatres Claims Contractual Rights
According to Rajkumar Sethupathy, Rajkumar Theatres has what he described as the first right of refusal for Indian remakes or adaptations of Drishyam. He said the production house had provided no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the first two Hindi films in the franchise.
Speaking about the latest dispute, Rajkumar said, “Rajkumar Theatres has the first right of refusal for any Indian remake or adaptation of Drishyam. The first and second films in the Hindi franchise were made after obtaining an NOC from us. However, we were not given the first right of refusal for the third film.”
He further alleged that the Hindi Drishyam 3 could also be released in Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions on OTT platforms, raising additional concerns for the production house.
Dispute Extends to OTT Adaptations
Rajkumar also referred to an earlier legal proceeding involving the proposed OTT release of a Telugu-dubbed version of the Malayalam Drishyam 3. According to him, Rajkumar Theatres had approached the court in that matter seeking compensation over what it described as infringement of its rights.
He said the latest case concerning Ajay Devgn’s Hindi film has been filed on similar grounds, with the production house seeking compensation for rights it says it is contractually entitled to.
The allegations remain part of the ongoing legal proceedings, and the court’s final determination on the claimed rights has not been established in the material provided.
Madras High Court Adjourns Hearing
The matter was brought before the Madras High Court for an urgent hearing on September 29. However, the court adjourned the proceedings to October 1, allowing the makers of Drishyam 3 an opportunity to file their counter-affidavits.
The development comes immediately before the film’s planned theatrical release, making the court proceedings relevant to the film’s distribution plans.
Ajay Devgn Returns as Vijay Salgaonkar
Directed by Abhishek Pathak, Drishyam 3 is positioned as the concluding chapter of the Hindi Drishyam franchise. Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay Salgaonkar, alongside Tabu, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat, Prakash Raj, Kamlesh Sawant, Ishita Dutta and Mrunal Jadhav.
The screenplay has been credited to Abhishek Pathak, Aamil Keeyan Khan and Parveez Shaikh. The film is presented by Star Studios and produced by Panorama Studios.
The legal challenge is now unfolding as the film approaches its October 2 release date. Any decision or further direction from the Madras High Court could have implications for the film’s distribution and exploitation rights.
