‘Mr. Perfect’ Copyright Case: Temporary Relief for Dil Raju and Director Dasaradh

The 2011 Telugu film Mr. Perfect, starring Prabhas, Kajal Aggarwal, Taapsee, and Prakash Raj, has been at the center of a copyright dispute. In 2017, writer Mummidi Shyamala approached the High Court, alleging that the film was fraudulently based on her novel Naa Manasu Korindi Ninne, violating her rights.

Seeking dismissal of the case on the grounds that the copyright limitation period had expired, producer Dil Raju and director Kondapalli Dasaradh filed a petition with the Supreme Court. The matter was heard yesterday by a bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Mahadevan. Granting partial relief to Dil Raju and Dasaradh, the court issued a temporary stay on the trial proceedings.

However, the bench cautioned senior advocate Niranjan Reddy, representing Dil Raju, stating that the parties should attempt to resolve the issue, warning that failure to do so could lead to complications.

During the hearing, advocate Krishna Dev, appearing for Dil Raju, argued that the High Court had already dismissed the case and urged the court to quash it under Section 468 of the CrPC, considering the time limitation. He further sought dismissal under Section 63 of the Copyright Act.

The court noted that while Mr. Perfect was released in 2011, the writer had filed the case under CrPC Section 200 on July 12, 2017. The bench observed that since the film continues to be broadcast on television, the alleged copyright violation might be considered an ongoing offense.

As a result, the court decided to examine this aspect and issued notices to the respondents, instructing them to respond within two weeks. Until then, the trial court proceedings will remain stayed. Additionally, the court reiterated its advice to seek an amicable resolution to avoid further legal trouble.