Madras High Court Orders BSNL, Airtel to Block Pirated Versions of Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie

Speedy Summary

• The Madras High Court issued an interim injunction against 36 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and five cable TV networks to prevent the streaming of pirated versions of the upcoming Rajinikanth movie Coolie.
• The injunction requires ISPs and websites/web pages, including future ones, to block unauthorized streaming or distribution of the film.
• justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy granted this ex-parte injunction after reviewing evidence from Sun TV Network Limited, citing potential irreparable injury to the production house.
• The named respondents include major telecom providers such as BSNL, Airtel, Reliance Communications, Vodafone-Idea, and others. Cable networks such as JAK Communications Private limited were also directed not to infringe on copyrights.
• Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, features a star-studded cast with Rajinikanth alongside Aamir Khan, Sathyaraj (of Bahubali fame), Nagarjuna Akkineni, Shruti hassan, and others in pivotal roles. It is slated for release on August 14.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the Madras High Court’s proactive measure underlines India’s growing focus on intellectual property rights protection within its entertainment sector – particularly for high-budget films with substantial revenue stakes like Coolie. Piracy has long been a concern for production houses since it undermines theatrical collections and producer investments significantly.

With Rajinikanth being synonymous with mass appeal across India and globally in regional cinema circles coupled with Lokesh Kanagaraj’s directorial caliber driving anticipation further action taken…