A Dubai-based firm has moved the Bombay High Court to block Netflix from releasing the film Hotel Mumbai on the OTT entertainment provider’s platform in India on the grounds that it has the rights to release the film in the Indian market.
According to a petition filed by Plus Holdings in the Bombay High Court that ET has reviewed, the Dubai-based firm has claimed that it had bought the rights to the film from Australia-based Xeitgeist Entertainment Group but the latter terminated the agreement unlawfully and transferred the film’s rights to Netflix through a third party.
The film is based on the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai that was spread over almost four days and involved at least a dozen coordinated shootouts and bombings.
It boasts an international star cast of actors such as Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire fame and Anupam Kher who was the protagonist in the recently controversial film The Accidental Prime Minister.
The Dubai firm has asked the court to restrain Netflix, Xeitgeist and other associated parties that it listed in its petition from claiming any rights to the film in India till the time an ongoing dispute between itself and Xeitgeist is being adjudicated upon by a Singapore arbitration court.
A spokesperson for Netflix declined to comment stating that the matter is pending litigation.
Sandeep Ladda, a lawyer representing Plus Holdings, declined to comment when contacted by ET.
Sources close to Netflix said the company is likely to withdraw its claim on the India distribution rights and will not release the film as the ownership of the rights had passed through several hands.
Hotel Mumbai was recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and received critical acclaim, according to the petition by the Dubai firm. “The petitioner submits that the star-studded cast and favourable critical reviews have demonstrated that the said film is a unique commercial proposition that would be difficult to replicate,” Plus Holdings claimed.
The Dubai firm claimed it had initiated arbitration proceedings in Singapore on December 26 last year against Xeitgeist for reneging on its contractual obligations. Xeitgeist had not responded to ET’s queries as of press time on Tuesday.
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