Title tussle

Ram Gopal Varma

On October 10, Sridevi sent a legal notice to film-maker Ram Gopal Varma on learning that he had titled his upcoming Telugu film Sridevi. It was earlier titled Savitri.
In response to the legal notice sent by Sridevi to Ram Gopal Varma on October 10, RGV said that there seems to be an apprehension that the film, Sridevi is based on a crush that he had for Sridevi during his college years. The film, he said, is about a teenager’s infatuation for a 25 year old woman and Sridevi is neither the woman playing the title role in the film or an actress and neither is the boy a director.
“The title has been given to us by the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber which is the authorised body for such deeds. Moreover films with the title Sridevi have been made earlier. The film was earlier titled Saavitri , but we changed it due to a miscommunication by the production team. They went ahead with the title without acquiring it from the previous right holder of the title who refused to give it. After the producer got the title he went ahead with the printing of standees and hoardings with the new title. When Mr. Boney Kapoor called me, I explained to him both verbally and in a message clearing the speculations on the so called controversial content of the subject,” said the film-maker in a press release.
Varma also stated that he was going ahead with the title, Sridevi because he was well within his legal and moral rights to use it. “Legally, because a name cannot be copyrighted and also because the film has nothing to do with the real Sridevi, and morally because I never do anything to degrade or demean Sridevi.”
When contacted, Sridevi said that she did not wish to comment on the issue.

The legal notice in brief:

The legal notice cited the Child Rights Protection Commission terming the poster of the film as vulgar. On learning that the title of the film had been changed, Sridevi’s husband Boney Kapoor tried to contact Varma who sent a text on Whatsapp with contents of a press note which in no manner provided an explanation on using Sridevi’s name.
The change, said the notice is bound to make the public believe that the film is associated with Sridevi. Any misuse of her name, likeness, persona, etc. amounts to infringement of the personality and under Article 21 of the Constitution has the fundamental right to safeguard her privacy.
The notice also wanted Varma to furnish a written confirmation on the change of title and circulate the new title, to publish an unconditional apology in a national newspaper. Or legal action would be taken against the film-maker within three days of receiving the notice.