Pakistani cinema-goers were treated to a bombastic and slickly-produced action movie with The Legend of Maula Jutt trailer last month. The movie stars Fawad Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi and Mahira Khan among many others, and people were so looking forward to it.
Apparently now the release of the new film is under danger, thanks to a legal victory scored by the producer behind the original classic Maula Jutt Sarwar Bhatti himself.
Yesterday Mr. Bhatti’s lawyer Hassan Niazi tweeted this picture, which shows all the proof to establish Sarwar Bhatti as the owner of the Jutt movie trademark.
Im officially representing the owners of #MaulaJutt -High time parameters are set on copyrights
We will make sure Action is taken against trademark infringement. There is restraining order from the court. How dare you release the trailer. Badmashi not allowed!!! pic.twitter.com/ebqZEBQAYH— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) January 7, 2019
He accused the makers of the reboot movie as ‘thugs’ and then proceeded to give proof as to whom owned the copyrights to the characters in Veshi Jutt.
.
Breaking-plz RT against mafia.Sarwar Bhatti the maker of original “Maula Jutt” given the certificate of ownership TODAY. Only Sarwar sb has right over the movie HE HIMSELF MADE.Bilal Lashari tried to take away his ‘property’ BY FORCE. Court has given restraining order agnst Bilal pic.twitter.com/1gwJ5BOCAm
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) January 7, 2019
Sarwar Bhatti produced the original movie back in the 1970s. As per informed sources, he obtained the copyrights and trademark certificate to the Maula Jutt name in 2016 and 2018 respectively.
Movie “Maula Jatt” was produced in 1979, copyright and trademark certificates obtained in 2016 and 2018, only after Bilal Lashari and co announced to make a movie on Maula Jatt. https://t.co/g7bR1iSmnb
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) January 7, 2019
This development puts Bilal Lashari, the director behind the reboot of the Punjabi classic, in a precarious situation. Lashari previously claimed that the movie was not anyone’s property as the trademark had not been registered yet.
He also stated that since the name of his movie was not ‘Maula Jutt’ but rather ‘The Legend of Maula Jutt’, he could make the movie any way he saw fit.
Apparently Mr Hassan Niazi also touched on this fact:
It’s just like saying
It’s THE Mc Donald’s and not Mc Donald’s.
It’s shame how many of us don’t understand that anyone who produces a movie, Owns it like one owns a property.
Also script and character names also copied https://t.co/Bm95xKcHDx— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) January 7, 2019
As per the court, Lashari can no longer release the movie. Which is a shame since it looked like one of the biggest action films Pakistan has ever made in its history.
It will be interesting to see where this case goes from here. On one hand we have Bilal Lashari, who made Waar. On the other hand, we have the original producer Sarwar Bhatti, who possesses a strong legal case against the remake.
Perhaps both the parties could come to a mutual agreement regarding this year’s most awaited Pakistani movie. Here’s to hoping.
