A day after director Shankar announced the Hindi remake of Anniyan, the film has landed in legal trouble. Producer V Ravichandran of Ascar Films on Thursday sent a legal notice and accused Shankar of indulging in “unlawful acts.”
In a statement, Ravichandran said that the right of the original film is still with him and the film’s writer. “I am sure you always maintain certain ethical values, hence I wonder how can you stoop to a low level by resorting to such unlawful acts,” he said.
On Wednesday, Shankar had announced that Ranveer Singh will headline the Hindi adaptation of 2005 hit film. The psychological action thriller featured actor Vikram in the lead and chronicled the story of a man who suffers from multiple personality disorder—working as a lawyer by day and a vigilante at night.
“I am utterly shocked to know that you are likely to undertake the direction of a Hindi film by adopting the story of the movie, Anniyan. You are well aware of the fact that I am the producer of the said movie Anniyan. The entire story rights were purchased by me from the writer Sujatha (alias late Rangarajan) for which full payment was done by me to him and necessary records are also available. I am the whole and sole owner of the rights of the storyline. As such, any such adaptation or remaking or copying the main plot of the said movie, without my permission, is totally illegal,” Ravichandran wrote in his statement.
He added. “Further, I wish to remind you that after the not so successful film namely Boys, directed by you, you were severe stress due to the dented image. Still, I have provided you with the opportunity to direct the film Anniyan, after which you have regained the lost ground, only because of my support. It is a sorry state of affairs that you have conveniently forgotten the same and without even informing me, you have tried to reap the accolades of my successful movie Anniyan by associating yourself and adaptation of Hindi version of the same. I am sure you always maintain certain ethical values, hence I wonder how can you stoop to a low level by resorting to such unlawful acts.”
Hitting out at Shankar, he concluded: “You are hereby advised to immediately stop proceeding any further on the same, due to the illegal copying of the storyline for which the entire rights are held by me. Please note that a legal notice follows this letter.”
