Bollywood / Bombay HC shields Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana from online piracy ahead of release

Mumbai, Nov 3: In a major relief for the makers of the Ranbir's mega-budget film Ramayana, the Bombay High Court has granted interim protection against piracy, illegal uploads and unauthorised streaming ahead of its theatrical release. The court has restrained unidentified individuals and digital platforms from recording, uploading, sharing or streaming the film without proper authorisation.

The court has also directed ISPs and social media platforms to block or remove pirated content after receiving complaints from the production company.

The interim order was passed on Monday by Justice Madhav Jamdar while hearing a copyright infringement suit filed by Godpower Media Private Limited, which holds the film's copyright and exploitation rights in India and overseas territories. During the hearing, Godpower Media expressed concerns over the possibility of the film being leaked, recorded or circulated illegally across digital platforms before its theatrical release.

According to a report, the production company informed the court that the first part of Ramayana has been mounted on a budget of approximately Rs 2,000 crore, while the overall two-part project is estimated to cost Rs 4,000 crore.

The company sought legal protection against the unauthorised circulation of the film and its related content, including scripts, characters, footage, lyrics and sound recordings. Observing the concerns raised by the production company, the court noted that there was a genuine apprehension that the film or portions of it could be recorded, uploaded, streamed or communicated to the public without permission.

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Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend features an impressive ensemble cast led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The film also stars Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana. Other prominent actors associated with the project include Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Sheeba Chadha, Kunal Kapoor, Shobhana, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi and Anupam Kher.

The ambitious two-part cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic is produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with DNEG and Yash's Monster Mind Creations. Adding to the film's international appeal, Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman have joined hands to create its music.

The film will be released in five languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. It will also be screened in IMAX and other premium formats. Sony Pictures will handle international distribution outside India, while Dharma Productions will distribute the film across the Hindi-speaking market.

The first instalment of Ramayana is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5. The second part is planned for Diwali 2027.