Complaint against Raj TV for showing MGR films

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent | Chennai
Decades after MGR's death, his films continue to be gold mines, both in theatres and on satellite television channels. The telecast of two of his films, Adimai Penn and Ulagam Sutrum Valibhan by Raj TV on October 2 has resulted in the channel being accused of copyright infringement.

In a written complaint lodged with the commissioner of police, Emgeeyar Pictures and OK Films have accused the channel of "plain piracy and total infringement of copyright".

According to a statement from the two companies, they own the copyright of MGR films Nadodi Mannan (1958), Adimai Penn (1969) and Ulagam Sutrum Valibhan (1973). In 2000, OK Films agreed to sell the world satellite TV rights of the film to Raj TV, for Rs 30 lakh.

According to the complainants, while the channel had paid Rs 20 lakh, it still owed Rs 10 lakh. However, the channel aired Adimai Penn and Ulagam Sutrum Valibhan on October 2, and requests to the channel to stop the telecast were ignored.

Speaking to Televisionpoint.com, M Raajhendran, MD of Raj TV said that as per the agreement with OK Films, the channel had the right to claim interest if the film's rights were delayed.

"The rights should have been given to us by 2001, but because of the litigation over the ownership of the films, our money was locked. Now that the judgment has clearly stated that they are the producers of the film, it was decided to telecast the film." Raajhendran said.