The writer-director terminates his Writer’s Agreement even as the Directors’ Association gives a decision against him
Writer-director Manish Gupta and producer Kumar Mangat Pathak have drawn swords in their fight over Section 375: Marzi Ya Jabardasti, which they were collaborating on. Post the fall out, their battle now enters the next stage. Along with the second notice that Manish sent to Kumar Mangat, terminating the Writer’s Agreement, he also sent a cheque refunding the entire amount of Rs 3,38,000 (paid to him when they first decided to team up).
After Hrs has a copy of the notice that Manish has sent to Mangat’s legal team through his lawyers. The notice states that the writer-director is the sole, original and exclusive owner of the script. The notice further states that Mangat and his company are ‘in no manner allowed to deal with or utilise the said script in any manner whatsoever’. If, under any circumstances, the script is used by Mangat and his company in any manner whatsoever, Manish will have no option but to carry out appropriate legal proceedings seeking injunctive relief against the producer with regards to this script.
When contacted, Kumar Mangat said, “I submitted all the relevant documents to IFTDA (Indian Film and Television Directors Association), where he had filed the complaint against me. The association went through all the documents and gave a decision in my favour. They decided that I own the copyright of the script and can make the film as I deem right and best.” We have a copy of IFTDA’s decision, too.
While Manish was unavailable for comment, a source close to him confirmed the development, “After the IFTDA ruling, Manish terminated the Writer’s Agreement and informed the association that he was going ahead with his dispute legally and filing a lawsuit against Kumar Mangat and Abhishek Pathak of Panorama Studios Pvt Ltd. Manish has registered every draft of the script with the copyright association in Delhi. Consequently, he has complete ownership of the script.
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 "Manish Gupta and (right) Kumar Mangat Pathak")
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