What did the Delhi High Court order?
The Delhi High Court on November 6 directed the makers of Doosra to add a disclaimer about the use of former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly’s identity and to furnish an unconditional ₹2 crore bank guarantee. Justice Tejas Karia allowed theatrical screenings to continue subject to conditions while Ganguly and Luv Films pursue their suit.
Bar & Bench and LiveLaw reported that the disclaimer must appear at the beginning and end of the film in Hindi and English. The court gave the filmmakers two days to add it. The notice must make clear that Ganguly did not consent to the use of his persona. LiveLaw reported that the court also specified that the disclaimer should be displayed in large type.
[1][2]What does the guarantee mean for screenings?
Bar & Bench reported that Ramesh Deo Productions must furnish the guarantee to the court registry within two weeks. The guarantee is security while the suit is pending. If the filmmakers fail to comply with the conditions, the order restrains commercial use of the film. The terms give cinemas a route to continue showing Doosra while the court considers the dispute.
At this interim stage, the court found a prima facie case that the film used Ganguly’s identity to generate commercial interest. Justice Karia also observed that elements connected to Ganguly were woven into the story so closely that cutting them out would be impractical, Bar & Bench reported.
[1][2]How did the dispute reach this point?
Ganguly and Luv Films had asked the court to restrain the release, arguing that the filmmakers used incidents from his career without permission. Their objections included the 2002 NatWest Series final and Ganguly’s celebration at Lord’s. The court’s earlier direction to arrange a screening for the judge has now been followed by an interim order setting conditions for the film’s continued exhibition.
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