![Sourav Ganguly's plea rejected [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792764371530_SouravGangulyforDC.jpg?type=hq)
Sourav Ganguly's plea rejected [Source: AFP]
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has approached the Delhi High Court over the upcoming sports drama film Doosra, raising concerns about the alleged unauthorised use of his identity and cricketing career.
The film, scheduled to hit theatres on October 23, has become the centre of a legal dispute involving personality rights and a separate biopic being produced on the former cricketer. Nevertheless, the court's latest observation has given the filmmakers a significant boost ahead of the release.
Delhi High Court refuses to halt Doosra's theatrical release
The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stop the theatrical release of Doosra, declining to grant immediate relief to Sourav Ganguly and production house Luv Films LLP.
A vacation bench led by Justice Dinesh Bhatt observed that the balance of convenience appeared to favour the filmmakers, considering the film's scheduled release and the preparations already made for its theatrical distribution.
"It is due for release tomorrow (Friday). Balance of convenience prima facie does not favour you. You may have a valuable right. (But) We are not stopping the film today," the judge orally told the plaintiff.
The filmmakers' counsel argued that the movie was not a biopic of the recently appointed head coach of DC and maintained that the necessary permissions had been obtained to use certain cricketing clips involving the former India captain. Notably, more than 100 theatres had been booked for the release, with advance payments already made.
"This is blackmailing on the last day," the filmmakers' counsel said during the proceedings.
The court has listed the matter for further hearing on Friday, October 23. The refusal to grant an immediate stay allows the film to proceed with its scheduled release, although the underlying legal dispute remains unresolved.
Why has Sourav Ganguly challenged the film Doosra?
Ganguly and Luv Films LLP have raised concerns about the alleged unauthorised commercial use of the former cricketer's personality and the potential impact on the production house's proposed biopic.
Ganguly's counsel argued that the film's promotional campaign prominently draws on his cricketing career, making him central to its appeal despite the absence of a licence from him.
"The movie (Doosra) is being promoted on Sourav Ganguly. Sourav Ganguly is the actual hero of the movie. He and his life are the main theme of the movie," Ganguly's counsel said, offering to pay the "advance booking amount" to defer the release.
The dispute has brought the former captain's iconic moments, including India's celebrated 2002 NatWest Series victory, into focus. The defence argued that a player cannot claim personality rights over footage from the 2002 NatWest Series and pointed out that the plaintiffs had not watched the film before raising their concerns.
