A police investigation team on Sunday recorded the statement of the ‘Kantara’ director and producer who faced charges of plagiarism with a song from the movie. The makers have been facing allegations of plagiarism ever since popular music band Thaikkudam Bridge claimed that the song Varhararoopam from the movie ‘Kantara’ has several similarities with their work ‘Navarasam’, which was shown on Matrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd. owned Malayalam music channel Kappa TV.
“Producer Vijay Kirgandur and actor-director Rishabh Shetty appeared before the Kozhikode City Police today as directed by the High Court. Their statements were recorded. If necessary, they will be called again,” a senior police official in the district told PTI. The Supreme Court on February 10 stayed the Kerala High Court’s order directing the producer and director of the Kannada blockbuster not to screen the film with the song ‘Varaharoopam’ until the court’s final order come out in the copyright infringement case.
The bench modified a stipulation of the High Court and directed that producer Kirgandur and director Shetty be released on bail immediately if arrested.
The High Court granted anticipatory bail to the director and producer on 8th February in a case registered at the Kozhikode police station on charges of song theft.
The court imposed five conditions and asked Kirgandur and Shetty to surrender to the investigating officer for two days between 10 am and 1 pm on February 12 and 13 for questioning. It said the accused would not intimidate witnesses or tamper with proof and that they would assist with the investigation and be available for trial. It also stated that the accused/petitioners should not leave the country without the prior permission of the court of jurisdiction.
The High Court noted that the allegation in the case against both the director and the producer of the movie is that they have committed an offense punishable under Section 63 of the Copyright Act by using the music of Thaikudam Bridge’s ‘Navarasam’.