Summary
This post analyses the plagiarism allegations against Kapil Sharma’s Bollywood debut, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, brought by the production house behind the Kannada film Nimbe Huli. The complaint, now before the Madras High Court, centres on substantial similarities in plot and character between the two films. The author examines the legal defences available to the makers of the Hindi film, referencing prior registration with the Screenwriters Association. The post also discusses the broader trend of remakes and recycled content in Indian comedy, raising concerns about originality within the industry. The dispute exemplifies ongoing legal and ethical challenges in Indian entertainment law.
A plagiarism complaint has been filed in the Madras High Court by the production house behind the Kannada film Nimbe Huli against the makers of the Hindi film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (also referred to as “KKPK”), alleging that the Hindi production copied the storyline of the Kannada original.
Background
Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, directed by Abbas-Mustan and starring Kapil Sharma, Arbaaz Khan, and Varun Sharma, was scheduled for release when the complaint was filed. The film centres on a husband who is secretly married to three women, all of whom live in the same apartment building.
Nimbe Huli, released the previous year, features a cricket-betting agent who marries three women living in the same apartment complex. The rights to the Kannada film were acquired by a Tamil Nadu production house with the intention of producing a Hindi remake. After watching the trailer of Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, the production house observed a substantial degree of similarity with the storyline of Nimbe Huli.
The Complaint and the Defence
The production house filed a complaint in the Madras High Court and also sent a legal notice to the makers of Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon. Producer Ratan Jain advanced a defence on behalf of the Hindi production, stating that the film and its dialogues had been registered with the Screenwriters Association in 2008, predating the 2014 release of Nimbe Huli.
Context
The making of Hindi remakes of South Indian films has become a widespread practice in the Indian film industry. The registration of scripts with the Screenwriters Association is a recognised mechanism for establishing prior creation, though it does not of itself confer copyright or preclude a finding of subsequent independent creation. The outcome of this dispute would turn on whether the similarities between the two films could be attributed to copying rather than coincidence or common source material.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified attorney before acting on any matter discussed here.