Netflix Pulls Down Good Bad Ugly Over Copyright Dispute
Copyright conflicts are increasingly posing hurdles for filmmakers and streaming platforms in India. In recent times, several movies and documentaries have been taken off OTT platforms due to disagreements over songs, visuals, or images used without proper authorization. Courts have been particular about permissions, while the scope of fair use remains a gray area.
The latest to face this issue is the Tamil film Good Bad Ugly. Directed by Adhik Ravichandran and featuring Ajith Kumar, Trisha, Arjun Das, Prasanna, Prabhu, and Sunil. The film premiered in cinemas on April 10 and began streaming on Netflix on May 8. However, it has now been removed following a legal intervention.
The controversy arose after iconic music composer Ilaiyaraaja filed a case against the production house, Mythri Movie Makers. He alleged that several of his classic songs, including Ottha Ruba Tharen, En Jodi Manja Kuruvi, and Ilamai Idho Idho, were used in the film without his consent. Initially, he demanded an apology and Rs 5 crore as compensation. When matters escalated, he pursued legal action, accusing the team of copyright infringement.
Netflix Pulls Down Good Bad Ugly Over Copyright Dispute
Although the producers maintained they had the required permissions, they failed to produce any documentary evidence. As a result, Justice N. Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court issued an interim injunction. Restricting the filmmakers from exhibiting or streaming the film on any platform, including Netflix, until the dispute is resolved.
This incident highlights how copyright and personality rights can affect films even after their theatrical and digital release. A similar case occurred in 2021 when Nani’s V was briefly taken down from Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix too has faced disputes over documentaries involving actress Nayanthara. For now, Good Bad Ugly will remain unavailable on Netflix until a legal resolution is reached.