Madras High Court grants anti-piracy injunction in favour of Aamir Khan backed Sunny Deol starrer ‘Batwara 1947,’ directs ISPs to block pirated copies
The Madras High Court has granted an interim injunction to Aamir Khan Productions to prevent the unauthorised online and cable distribution of its recently released Partition drama, ‘Batwara 1947’. In an order passed on August 14 in Aamir Khan Productions vs BSNL, Justice K Surender directed internet service providers to block websites hosting pirated copies of the film, offering the production house crucial legal cover just as the movie hits theatres.
Why the court granted the injunction
According to Bar and Bench, the court passed the direction after observing that the production house was likely to suffer irreversible injury unless the unlawful broadcast of the film was prevented. Justice Surender noted that in matters of this nature, irreversible injury is likely to occur unless the unlawful broadcast is stopped in time, making the interim relief necessary to safeguard the film’s commercial interests during its crucial theatrical window.The court also issued notice to the respondents, the mobile and internet service providers (ISPs) named in the case, and sought their responses. The injunction will remain in force until September 11, when the matter is next scheduled to be heard.
How the court established copyright ownership
The production house relied on the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate, which identified it as the film’s producer, to establish its claim. The Court found that this document established a prima facie case regarding ownership of the copyright, which formed the basis for granting the interim relief.However, Justice Surender also noted that such wide-ranging relief could affect the legitimate business interests of one or more respondents. The injunction was, therefore, made conditional on the production house indemnifying the respondents against any loss caused to their legitimate business operations. Advocate S Deepak represented Aamir Khan Productions in the matter.
About ‘Batwara 1947’
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan Productions, ‘Batwara 1947’ is a poignant Hindi period drama set against the backdrop of India’s Partition and the division of Punjab. Adapted from Asghar Wajahat’s acclaimed play ‘Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai’, the film stars Sunny Deol as Sikander Mirza, a Muslim refugee who migrates with his family to a deserted haveli in Lahore, alongside Preity Zinta, marking her return to cinema after eight years, and Shabana Azmi. The narrative unfolds into a deeply emotional conflict when the family discovers the haveli’s former Hindu owner, an elderly matriarch, still defiantly residing inside. Featuring a score by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Javed Akhtar, the film was released theatrically on August 14, 2026, clashing at the box office with ‘Awarapan 2’ and ‘Vishwanath and Sons’.Disclaimer: The legal information and court developments detailed in this article are reported strictly for news, informational, and entertainment purposes only.
