Copyright case against Rangoon

February 23, 2017

Mumbai, Feb 23: It may be a nail biting finish for Rangoon, the Kangana Ranaut-Saif Ali Khan-Shahid Kapoor starrer, in the Bombay high court ahead of its scheduled release date of February 24. Its director Vishal Bhardwaj is defending allegations that the film's swashbuckling 1940s movie star character is copyright violation of 'Fearless Nadia' a stunt actor of the 1930s and '40s.

rangoon

A production house, Wadia Movietone Pvt. Ltd, has claimed that Miss Julia, the character of Ranaut, is based on real-life Australian stunt actor Mary Evans, better known globally as Fearless Nadia. The firm said it holds rights to all scripts, publicity material and posters for the Fearless Nadia films which it had produced. The Wadias' suit alleges that the makers of Rangoon have infringed on the copyrighted Fearless Nadia's characters, costumes, persona and even her signature phrase.

But seeking dismissal of the suit as being baseless, Bhardwaj's lead counsel Ravi Kadam argued on Wednesday that there is no copyright on historical characters and it is well known that in that era there were a large number of stunt women who would perform their own stunts. More importantly, he said that Fearless Nadia was the name of the actress and not a character in any of their films. The Wadia films "reflect the genre of the 1940s and not any individual", he said.

Justice K R Sriram, who is hearing the matter, will continue to hear Kadam at 10 am on Thursday. Earlier Wadia's counsel Navroz Seervai had argued how Bhardwaj, Nadiadwala Grandson, Viacom 18 Media, Sabrina Dhawan and others were in violation of the copyright law.

Dragged to the HC by Roy Wadia is also US-based award winning 73-year-old scriptwriter Mathew Robbins. As a co-scriptwriter of Rangoon, he denied all allegations and his reply said that the character of Julia is "based on independent research...where we discovered that in the year 1930s-40s numerous films were made by various production houses where female protagonist was a stunt woman, who would wear western clothes, would carry a weapon like a sword, pistol or whip and that 'Nadia' was just one of those several stunt actresses which featured in multiple films projecting empowered and strong women.''

His affidavit also said that the get up of stunt heroine Nadia herself in her films of yore were an "exact replica of the internationally well-known film character 'Zorro' with the eye-mask, whip and hat."

"The claim set up in favour of the late JBH Wadia is not only erroneous but incorrectly claims 'proprietary rights' over several 'features' which were not only common but which due to their use as part of the trend virtually are stock features used commonly by all film producers during the period of the 1930s to the late 40s,'' said the reply.

The defendants' case is also that the late JBH Wadia did nothing to seek to assert such rights by suits during the period against other film makers when the Fearless Nadia films, as per claims of Wadia, were at the very height of their popularity. The defendant said, "Wadia did nothing because he was aware that the film industry followed trends and that at the time swashbuckling, stunt woman characters."

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News Network
May 20,2020

New Delhi, May 20: Singer Justin Bieber on Wednesday thanked his Indian fans for showering love on his newly-launched song 'Stuck With U'.

The 26-year-old singer shared a video on Twitter, that featured many Indian music enthusiasts crooning and making their own individual creative videos with the song playing in the background.

In reaction to it, the 'Yummy' singer tweeted: "Thank You India"

Bieber and American singer Ariana Grande teamed up for the song earlier this month to help the people affected and who are in need during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The official music video was dropped on May 8. The romantic track marks the first collaboration of the duo.

The music video has cameos by the singer's partners and features many special moments shared by the couple amid lockdown.

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News Network
June 16,2020

Mumbai, Jun 16: Filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee remembers Sushant Singh Rajput as a dance loving 'chhokra' from an engineering college who, having made it in Bollywood, was “enthused, sincere and totally focused” on his craft.

Banerjeee said the actor always had “a book or two” with him and took pride in the fact that he had an “inner intellectual life away from the shallower aspects of showbiz”.

Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment on Sunday at the age of 34, leaving his friends, colleagues and collaborators in a state of shock.

The Patna-born actor and the director worked together in 2015 film "Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!" when Rajput was a relative newcomer in the industry. Banerjee says it was Rajput's vulnerability and willingness to do different that made him stand out for the role.

In an interview with news agency, the filmmaker looks back at Rajput's sincerity, his love for science and astronomy and how an outsider has to work harder than a "mediocre, unmotivated and entitled establishment elite" to succeed in Bollywood.

Excerpts:

You worked with Sushant when he was less than two-year-old in the film industry. What struck you the most in him to cast as Detective Byomkesh Bakshy?

Banerjee: His vulnerability and intensity and the ambition to do different things than the usual Bollywood stuff.

What were your memories of Sushant- the actor and the person?

Banerjee: As an actor he would tense himself up for the scene and then completely plunge in take after take. He would put a lot of value on preparation. He would be up the previous night of the shoot, reading the scene and making notes and land up on the sets all raring to go.

He would be on, ready and give his hundred per cent throughout the shoot of Byomkesh - no matter how hard or long the day. The unit did not really have to worry about him - considering he was the star. That's what I remember - a total pro, enthused, sincere and totally focused.

As a person, he seemed to me a happy dance loving 'chhokra' from an engineering college who had made it in showbiz and now was serious about acting. He was deeply nostalgic about his carefree student days in Delhi. We used to laugh a lot - I remember that quite clearly.

Sushant's friends say that he spoke more about books and his love for astronomy than films and their fate, which is rare for an actor in the industry. Do you also remember him that way?

Banerjee: Totally true. He was a science and astronomy nut. Always had a book or two with him - and was proud of the fact that he had an inner intellectual life away from the shallower aspects of showbiz. I recognized it as a reflex, protective action to prevent the Bollywood swamp sucking him in totally. And also an identity he wanted to protect and project.

Sushant's death has brought to the fore the struggles of outsiders and the alienation they often face from the nepotistic culture of the industry. Did you feel that Sushant was also fighting this battle despite being a successful actor?

Banerjee: We all fight it, day in and out - whether successful or failing. But the trick is to define that success and failure ourselves and not let the narrative constantly forced by the establishment to get to you. Those who know this weather the storm and ultimately survive and thrive.

The biggest unfairness in all this is that it takes double the talent, energy and hard work for an outsider to convince the audience and the industry that he or she is as safe a box office bet as a mediocre, unmotivated and entitled establishment elite.

The media colludes in this by wallowing in family, coterie and celebrity worship. This leads to deep anger and frustration. Those who can let this slide survive. Those who can't - those who hurt a little more or are vulnerable and impressionable - they are at risk.

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News Network
May 30,2020

California, May 30: Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Saturday shared a gorgeous sunkissed selfie sporting cherry lips and beaded dangler earrings.

The multi-talented star who owns a production house put out a morning selfie on Instagram wherein she is seen sporting a white collared top, flaunting her cherry red lips and dangler earrings as she embraces her peach glow in the sheer sunlight, while her shiny curls bounce the sunshine.

Along with the picture, the 'The Sky Is Pink' actor wrote, "A cherry lip and sunshine...maybe even a earring...I'm feeling adventurous."

On sharing the gorgeous selfie, the Chopra received heaps of praises from fans and celebrity followers, and the post reached more than 1.9 lakh likes including one for Sussanne Khan.

Model Masaba Gupta also chimed in the comment section and adored the beauty of the 'Baywatch' star writing, "Stunning" with a heart emoticon.

Currently, the actor is quarantined in her California house along with singer and husband Nick Jonas and has been quite active on social media.

Earlier, Priyanka recalled her parents' service in the Indian Army as America observed Memorial Day, and the 37-year-old actor dug out an old picture of her parents in uniform and posted it on Instagram.

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