The move comes after its writers, Arun AR and Justin Mathew, sought legal claiming that their characters from the film are being used without their consent.
Published Sep 13, 2024 | 1:10 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 13, 2024 | 1:10 PM
Minnal Murali: Kerala court issues injunction against Weekend Blockbusters and Netflix. (X)
The writers of the popular 2021 Malayalam superhero film, Minnal Murali, have taken legal action against the production house Weekend Blockbusters and the streaming platform Netflix, alleging copyright infringement.
The writers, Arun AR and Justin Mathew, have claimed that their characters from the film are being used without their permission.
In response to their petition, the Ernakulam District Court issued an injunction order on Thursday, 12 September, preventing any further production, distribution, or commercialisation of the characters from Minnal Murali.
The order comes following the announcement of Detective Ujjwalan, a new film starring Dhyan Sreenivasan that refers to the fictional village of Kurukkanmoola, where Minnal Murali is set.
Detective Ujjwalan hinted at a potential connection to the superhit Malayalam superhero movie. Notably, the forthcoming flick is also produced by Weekend Blockbusters and is touted to be a part of the Weekend Cinematic Universe.
The writers, in an interview with The News Minute, expressed their surprise and concern about the potential connections between the two films. They stated that they had not granted copyright to anyone else for the characters.
Arun AR and Justin Mathew also asserted that they have the exclusive right to create spin-offs or merchandise based on the characters.
Earlier this year, Weekend Blockbusters announced a collaboration with Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle Comics Studio, and Spirit Media to bring Minnal Murali to the world of comic books. The graphic novel, launched in April, featured a different storyline.
However, the court injunction now prevents Weekend Blockbusters and Netflix from utilising the film’s characters for commercial purposes. This includes the production of graphic novels, merchandise, spin-off films, or any other form of exploitation.
The characters named in the injunction order include the titular superhero Minnal Murali, Brucelee Biji, Josemon, PC Sibi Pothan, SI Sajan, PC Shinoj, and the film’s primary antagonist Shibu.
Other respondents in the case include Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited, Spirit Media Private Limited, and Weekend Blockbusters director Sophia Paul and managing director James Paul.
Further, the injunction order states that any commercialisation of the characters without the permission of the writers would constitute a copyright infringement.
This applies to all respondents, their agents, representatives, and anyone acting on their behalf. The injunction will remain in effect until further orders from the court.
Minnal Murali is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language superhero film directed by Basil Joseph and written by Arun AR and Justin Mathew. The film stars Tovino Thomas in the titular role of a small-town electrician who gains superhuman powers after being struck by lightning.
Released directly on Netflix on 24 December 2021, the Malayalam movie received critical acclaim for its unique blend of superhero storytelling and Indian mythology. It gained significant international recognition for its cinematic quality.
Its success led to the creation of a graphic novel series based on the superhero character.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
