1 week ago
Netflix Rejects Plagiarism Claims Against Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari
A new Netflix movie called Gandhari has become part of a copyright dispute.
Writer Kalyan Bandi says the movie is similar to a story he pitched in 2019.
He says both stories involve a mother and missing young girls.
Bandi says he sent a legal notice to Netflix India.
Netflix executive Ruchikaa Kapoor said the two stories are very different.
The movie’s writer and producer, Kanika Dhillon, also denied copying anyone.
Her production company said Gandhari was created independently.
The film stars Taapsee Pannu and is expected to arrive on Netflix on September 3.
Netflix executive Ruchikaa Kapoor rejected claims that Gandhari resembles writer Kalyan Bandi’s 2019 story.
Bandi alleges both stories involve a mother searching for missing young girls.
Kanika Dhillon’s Kathha Pictures said Gandhari was independently developed and entirely original.
Bandi said he sent a copyright-infringement notice to Netflix India content head Monika Shergill.
Gandhari, starring Taapsee Pannu, is scheduled to release on Netflix on September 3.
- Who
- Netflix executive Ruchikaa Kapoor, writer Kalyan Bandi, writer-producer Kanika Dhillon, actor Taapsee Pannu, and Netflix India content head Monika Shergill are central to the dispute.
- What
- Bandi has alleged that Netflix’s Gandhari copies elements of a story he pitched, while Netflix and the filmmakers deny the claim.
- Where
- The controversy concerns Netflix India and the film’s planned release on Netflix.
- When
- The dispute was discussed at Gandhari’s trailer launch; Bandi said he sent a legal notice last September. The film is scheduled for September 3.
- Why
- Bandi cites similarities involving a mother and the disappearance of young girls; Netflix and Kathha Pictures say Gandhari is an original work.
Kalyan Bandi’s Allegations
Netflix and Filmmakers’ Denial
Story similarities
Kalyan Bandi’s Allegations
Bandi says his story and Gandhari both focus on a mother and the disappearance of young girls.
Netflix and Filmmakers’ Denial
Ruchikaa Kapoor said the pitch in question is very different from Kanika Dhillon and Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari.
Originality and development
Kalyan Bandi’s Allegations
Bandi says he pitched his story to industry contacts and was surprised when Netflix announced its own Gandhari in September 2024.
Netflix and Filmmakers’ Denial
Kathha Pictures said Gandhari was independently developed, with its story and screenplay written by Kanika Dhillon.
Legal dispute
Kalyan Bandi’s Allegations
Bandi said he sent Monika Shergill a legal notice for copyright infringement after his producers backed out of the project.
Netflix and Filmmakers’ Denial
Kathha Pictures urged media and audiences not to present the allegations as proven claims.
Key facts
- Film
- Gandhari
- Lead actor
- Taapsee Pannu
- Netflix representative
- Ruchikaa Kapoor, Director of Original Films, Netflix India
- Alleging writer
- Kalyan Bandi
- Claim
- Bandi alleges copyright infringement and similarities to his 2019 story.
- Production banner
- Kathha Pictures
- Scheduled release
- September 3 on Netflix
Quotes
Ruchikaa Kapoor
Netflix India's Director of Original Films
“We take artistic attribution very seriously. We are a service that receives multiple pitches, and the pitch in question is very different from Kanika Dhillon and Taapsee Pannu's Gandhari. I won't make any other assumptions. Please watch the film. You have watched the trailer.”
NDTV
“These allegations are false, and we deny them unequivocally. Gandhari is an original work, written and produced by Ms. Kanika Dhillon and developed by Kathha Pictures. Its story and screenplay are Ms Dhillon's own work.”
NDTV
Kalyan Bandi
Writer who alleges Gandhari resembles his earlier story
“When I saw the title announcement, I reached out to Monika on LinkedIn again because my story is also of a mother and the disappearance of young girls, similar to Taapsee's film. I didn't get any response.”
NDTV
Sources
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