Bombay high court stays release of movie ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf After PVR Inox plea, ET LegalWorld

In a set back for the Raj Kumar Rao starrer Bombay high court on Friday stayed the forthcoming release of a court room drama granting interim relief to PVR Inox Ltd which sought the stay claiming violation of a contract for its release in theatres.

PVR moved the HC for a special hearing citing urgency. Through senior counsel Dinyar Madon and advocate Darshan Mehta it said unless the scheduled release is stayed its claim would be rendered infructuous. Madon said the urgency was because Maddock Films Pvt Ltd and others who produced the film had only on a day earlier terminated an Agreement dated 6th May 2025 by which it agreed to release the film “Bhool Chuk Maaf” in PVR theatres in India on 9th May 2025.

Under the agreement Maddock had to also keep a minimum eight weeks hold back from the First Theatrical Release Date in India till the date of release on OTT platforms. He submitted that PVR spent on promotions and also had prior bookings for the May 9 release but now the film was to be release instead on OTT on May 16. Maddock through senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond and advocate Ameet Naik opposed the application for the grant of urgent reliefs.

Dhond first submitted that not only had PVR misconstrued the Agreement, the 8 week restraint clause would kick in only if the film was to be theatrically released.

He said since the producers have now decided not to release the film in theatres, in view of the heightened security presently prevalent across the nation and in particular in the Northern part of the Country, there was nothing to prevent its release on other platforms.

Justice Arif Doctor who heard the matter after applying the law of contract to the facts of the dispute said PVR made had in keeping its end of the obligations, taken steps and incurred costs towards marketing and advertising the release of the film in its theatres and sold tickets and “any such last minute cancellation would also affect (the theatre’s )reputation and goodwill.”

Besides arguments that owner of the film can decide where to release is “also plainly untenable,” as it had no right to breach a concluded Agreement. The HC order made available on Saturday restrained the film’s release and sought a reply from Maddock and film’s owner in two weeks. It will next hear the matter on June 16.

• Published On May 11, 2025 at 10:16 PM IST

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