APHC010503522025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] TUESDAY, THE TWENTY THIRD DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 26136/2025 Between: 1. POTHAKAMURI CH GIRIDHAR RAYALU, S/O. POTHAKAMURI PRASAD RAYALU, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/O DOOR NO.29-27- 33, SURYANARAYANA STREET, NEAR VIJAYA HOSPITAL, SURYARAO PETA, VIJAYAWADA(URBAN), N.T.R DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 520002. ...PETITIONER AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING NEW DELHI. 2. THE CENTRAL BOARD OF FILM CERTIFICATION CBFC, REP. BY ITS REGIONAL OFFICER, HYDERABAD. 3 3. PEOPLE MEDIA FACTORY, PRODUCTION HOUSE OF MIRAI (MOVIE), REGISTERED/HEAD OFFICE 8-2-293/82/L/303-A, ROAD NO. 12, MLA COLONY, BANJARA HILLS, HYDERABAD, KHARATABAD, TELANGANA - 500034. 4. SRI T G VISHWA PRASAD, PRODUCER OF TELUGU MOVIE MIRAI C/O. PEOPLE MEDIA FACTORY, 8-2-293/82/L/303-A ROAD NO.12, MLA COLONY, BANJARA HILLS, HYDARABAD, KHARATABAD, TELANGANA - 500034. 5. KRITHI PRASAD, PRODUCER OF TELUGU MOVIE MIRAI, C/0. PEOPLE MEDIA FACTORY, 8-2-293/82/L/303-A, ROAD NO.12, MLA COLONY, BANJARA HILLS, HYDARABAD, KHARATABAD, 2 TELANGANA - 500034. 6. SRI KARTHIK GHATTAMNENI, DIRECTOR AND WRITER OF TELUGU MOVIE MIRAI, C/0. PEOPLE MEDIA FACTORY, 8-2- 293/82/L/303-A, ROAD NO. 12, MLA COLONY, BANJARA HILLS, HYDARABAD, KHARATABAD, TELANGANA - 500034. 7. ANDHRA PRADESH FILM DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, VIJAYAWADA. 8. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRI. SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate Order, Directions or Writ Particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring that the action of the respondents i.e., The continued exhibition, broadcasting, telecasting, OTT streaming, and distribution of the Telugu movie MIRAI by Respondents 3 to 6 is illegal, arbitrary, ultra vires, unconstitutional and violative of the petitioners copyright in his original literary work The Book of Destruction And Direct Respondents 1, 2, 7 and 8 to forthwith prohibit further screening, distribution, telecast, or OTT release of the said movie until adjudication of the petitioners claims. And Direct seizure of infringing copies (cinema prints, CDs, digital formats, OTT masters, etc.) of the movie MIRAI. consequently direct Respondents 3, 4 and 5 to pay compensation/damages to the petitioner for infringement of his copyright and moral rights, and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondents the continued exhibition, broadcasting, telecasting, OTT streaming, and distribution of the Telugu movie “MIRAI” by Respondents 3 to 6 which is illegal and violative of the petitioner’s copyright in his original literary work The Book of Destruction; And Direct Respondents 1,2, 7 and 8 to forthwith prohibit further screening, distribution, telecast, or OTT release of the said movie until adjudication of the petitioner’s claims, pending disposal of the above writ petition, and pass 3 IA NO: 2 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondents seizure of infringing copies (cinema prints, CDs, digital formats, OTT masters, etc.) of the movie “MIRAI” and direct Respondents 3, 4 and 5 to pay compensation/damages to the petitioner for infringement of his copyright and moral rights. It is submitted by the petitioner herein, pending disposal of the above writ petition, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. SHAIK ABDUL JILANI BASHA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. 4 The Court made the following: ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India with the following prayer for: “…to issue an appropriate Order, Directions or Writ Particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring that the action of the respondents i.e., The continued exhibition, broadcasting, telecasting, OTT streaming and distribution of the Telugu movie “MIRAI” by Respondents 3 to 6 is illegal, arbitrary, ultra vires, unconstitutional and violative of the petitioners copyright in his original literary work “The Book of Destruction”; And Direct Respondents 1, 2, 7 and 8 to forthwith prohibit further screening, distribution, telecast or OTT release of the said movie until adjudication of the petitioner’s claims And Direct seizure of infringing copies (cinema prints, CDs, digital formats, OTT masters etc.,) of the movie “MIRAI” consequently direct Respondents 3, 4 and 5 to pay compensation/damages to the petitioner for infringement of his copyright and moral rights and to pass...…” 2. Heard Sri S.A.Jilani, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri V.Farook, Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home. 3. Learned Counsel for the petitioner would submit that this Court may pass appropriate orders, giving liberty to the petitioner to pursue the matter before appropriate forum. 4. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of, granting liberty to the petitioner to work out his remedies before the appropriate forum according to law. There shall be no order as to costs. 5 As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. _________________________________________ Dr. JUSTICE VENKATAJYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 23.09.2025 SNI 6 92 HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATAJYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA W.P.No.26136 of 2025 Dated: 23.09.2025 SNI