Swati Deshpande (THE TIMES OF INDIA; May 11, 2025)
Mumbai: In a set back for the Rajkummar Rao starrer Bombay High Court on Friday stayed the forthcoming release of a court room drama granting interim relief to PVR Inox Ltd which sought the stay claiming violation of a contract for its release in theatres.
PVR moved the HC for a special hearing citing urgency. Through senior counsel Dinyar Madon and advocate Darshan Mehta it said unless the scheduled release is stayed its claim would be rendered infructuous. Madon said the urgency was because Maddock Films Pvt Ltd and others who produced the film had only on a day earlier terminated an Agreement dated 6th May 2025 by which it agreed to release the film “Bhool Chuk Maaf” in PVR theatres in India on 9th May 2025.
Under the agreement Maddock had to also keep a minimum eight weeks hold back from the First Theatrical Release Date in India till the date of release on OTT platforms. He submitted that PVR spent on promotions and also had prior bookings for the May 9 release but now the film was to be release instead on OTT on May 16. Maddock through senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond and advocate Ameet Naik opposed the application for the grant of urgent reliefs.
Dhond first submitted that not only had PVR misconstrued the Agreement, the 8 week restraint clause would kick in only if the film was to be theatrically released.
He said since the producers have now decided not to release the film in theatres, in view of the heightened security presently prevalent across the nation and in particular in the Northern part of the Country, there was nothing to prevent its release on other platforms.
Justice Arif Doctor who heard the matter after applying the law of contract to the facts of the dispute said PVR made had in keeping its end of the obligations, taken steps and incurred costs towards marketing and advertising the release of the film in its theatres and sold tickets and “any such last minute cancellation would also affect (the theatre’s )reputation and goodwill.”
Besides arguments that owner of the film can decide where to release is “also plainly untenable,” as it had no right to breach a concluded Agreement. The HC order made available on Saturday restrained the film’s release and sought a reply from Maddock and film’s owner in two weeks. It will next hear the matter on June 16.
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Maddock sued by PVR for Rs. 60 cr damages for cancelling theatrical release
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; May 11, 2025)
What happened
The makers of Bhool Chuk Maaf have been sued by PVR INOX cinemas. The cinema chain is seeking a “stay on the OTT release and damages of Rs. 60 crore” at the Bombay High Court.
A source says, “The cinema chain has requested the court to stay the OTT release. The film should be released in cinemas first, and then on OTT after eight weeks, as per the initial arrangement.” The court has already heard both the parties – the cinema chain and the producers and will issue its order on Monday. Attempts were made to contact the producers, but there was no response till the time of going to press.
‘Producers shouldn’t have bypassed theatres’
“PVR INOX has approached the court to set an example against unethical practices,” says an exhibitor, explaining, “If others follow this route of skipping theatrical release last minute, cinemas will have no films to show.”
A source adds, “If the film had been released theatrically, it wouldn’t have been eligible for an OTT release so soon, that’s why they skipped it.
Veteran exhibitor Raj Bansal says, “The producers should have refrained from bypassing theatres and jumping to OTT.”
Cinemas argue that this is a matter of principle. A cinema business analyst says, “The producers took the OTT route because there was no buzz around the film. It was an easy way out. The government didn’t tell you to shut cinemas. As of now, there is no advisory. If you opt out after giving hope to cinemas for nearly a month with promotions, you must be held accountable.”
Background
After the trailer for Bhool Chuk Maaf played in cinemas for months, the film took an unexpected turn just two days before its release. Producer Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films and Amazon MGM Studios announced that the romantic comedy would bypass theatres and head straight to Prime Video on May 16, citing “heightened security drills across the nation.”