Madras HC Orders ISPs to Block Pirated Versions of Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie

Swift Summary

• The Madras High Court issued an interim injunction on August 11, 2025, restraining 36 Internet Service providers (ISPs) across India from facilitating streaming of pirated versions of the movie Coolie.
• Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy ordered ISPs to block all existing and future websites/web pages that may stream pirated versions of the film.
• Sun TV Network Limited obtained this protection after convincing the judge that irreparable injury would be caused to the production house due to piracy.
• The injunction also extends to five cable television networks based in Chennai for copyright infringement concerns.
• Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, stars Rajinikanth alongside a pan-India cast including aamir Khan, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra rao, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Hassan, and Sathyaraj (returning after a hiatus).
• The film is set for theatrical release on August 14, 2025.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Madras High Court’s decision underscores India’s ongoing battle against digital piracy in its entertainment industry. This proactive measure ensures meaningful damage is mitigated before it occurs-a strategy necessary given india’s growing dependence on online platforms where piracy proliferates. By targeting ISPs and cable networks comprehensively-including those yet to infringe-this ruling sets a strong legal precedent protecting intellectual property rights.

The involvement of major telecommunication companies highlights how widespread compliance is imperative for success against such violations. While celebrating this step toward curbing piracy helps safeguard profits within India’s massive entertainment sector and affirms respect for creative labor across industries. This ruling also echoes wider implications about India’s technological readiness in enforcing copyright protections amid growing digital threats worldwide.

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