'Rock On 2' writer opens up on copyright controversy & Abhishek Kapoor's allegations

  • IndiaGlitz, [Tuesday,March 24 2015]

Writer Pubali Chaudhuri has been working closely with producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar of Excel Entertainment on the sequel, 'Rock On 2'.

Few days ago Abhishek Kapoor, who had earlier written and directed 'Rock On', has filed a case against Farhan and Ritesh for crediting only Pubali as the writer of the sequel. Abhishek maintains that both he and Pubali had started working on the script of the sequel, and so, he too should be given credit as a writer. Pubali is shocked that Abhishek has chosen to take the judicial course in resolving what is a copyright issue.

In a letter Pubali opened up on the issue thus:

"As the suit filed by Mr Kapoor is sub judice before the Hon'ble High Court, all I wish to say at this point is that the allegations made under various articles published over the last few days against me and Excel, in respect to Abhishek's authorship and ownership of the script of the under production film Rock On 2, being produced by Excel Entertainment, which is a sequel to the film Rock On, also produced by the same banner and released in the year 2008, are absolutely baseless.

Since history throws a long shadow over the present, perhaps it is time to bring to light the events of the past. I was barely six months old in Mumbai, a fresh graduate of the Screenplay Writing course at the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune, when Mr Abhishek Kapoor approached me in 2006 to write a full blown screenplay of what was to later become the film Rock On. As my first film writing project in Mumbai, I put in my best efforts to flesh out the characters, develop the story and write the screenplay of the said film.

Mr Kapoor subsequently sold the script to Excel Entertainment in 2007 and cited himself as the sole story and screenplay writer and director of the film, without mentioning that, in actuality, it was I who had written the screenplay for the past six months. It's only after the producers were informed of my involvement in the script that I was credited as the second screenplay writer of the film. This, in fact, is the reality behind the 'credit stealing' charges that I have been recently accused of. In 2011, I was informed that the producers were planning a sequel of Rock On and I signed an agreement with them, as the story and screenplay writer of the proposed sequel. As the producers had informed me that they were considering Mr Kapoor to direct the sequel, I had shared and discussed the script with him in good faith over the next two years, sending him several drafts of the story and screenplay over emails. I had also registered the then latest draft of the screenplay with the Film Writers Association (FWA), Mumbai, in August 2013. I was subsequently informed by the producers that Mr Kapoor would, in fact, not be directing the sequel and I was asked to honour the existing agreement I had with Excel Entertainment, as the writer of the sequel of Rock On.

As I continued to carry on my work, I was informed by Mr Kapoor's associate, after 10 months, that Mr Kapoor had, in fact, registered the last draft of the sequel's screenplay that he had received from me, under his name at the FWA, in the interim. Thereafter, I filed a complaint with the FWA, against the said director for this wrongful registration. The said complaint has been resolved pursuant to an order of the Appellate Board of the Film Writers Association and received by me in January 2015.

Therefore, it is extremely shocking to know that in spite of there being an order of the FWA, which is an association that the entire film writers community have so much faith and confidence in, Mr Kapoor has gone ahead with the filing of the suit before the Bombay High Court.

I would like to add that I have full faith in the judiciary and I'm assured that the truth will come out soon and would, therefore, request that no further speculations are believed without verifying the truth."

More News

Nikhil Advani: Akshay took 15 minutes to say yes for 'Airlift'

Producer Nikhil Advani is currently working on a unique project, 'Airlift', starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur, and now we hear that all it took was a two-page story idea and fifteen minutes of the khiladi’s time to convince him to do the film.

'Piku': Deepika invites media with their parents for the trailer launch

In yet another marketing innovation by Team 'Piku', the makers have released a video invite by Deepika Padukone for the film's trailer launch on March 25th 2015. And this time, the surprise is for the media!

National Award for 'Chandamama Kathalu'

The 62nd National Film Awards for the year 2014 are announced today and 'Chandamama Kathalu', directed by Praveen Sattaru and produced by Chanakya Bhooneti, won the National Award as the best Telugu film.

Rani Hazarika to croon a song in 'Welcome Back' for Shruti Hassan and John Abraham

Bollywood playback Singer Rani Hazarika, the one who won the heart of millions in the Bollywood industry with her heart touching voice and very soon Bollywood playback singer will be coming with a 'Welcome Back' song. Rani Hazarika lends her voice for the song in bollywood upcoming movie 'Welcome Back'. The song from the film is composed by Meet bros who felt that Rani Voice will give a fresh feel

Vin Diesel's Baby's Name 'Pauline' As Tribute to Paul Walker'

'Fast and Furious' franchise superstar Vin Diesel and his longtime girlfriend Paloma Jimenez have had their third child, a daughter. He made the announcement that they've named the child after his co-star, the late Paul Walker.