Court dismisses petition to stay release of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Kaduva citing mala fide intention

The makers of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Kaduva won another legal battle earlier this week, after a Kerala court had dismissed a petition filed by Jose Kuruvinakkunnel alleging that the movie was based on his life and its release must be stalled.

Jose had alleged that his legal battle between IPS officer Joseph Thomas was the fodder for the screenplay of Kaduva, with scriptwriter Renji Panicker having approached him years ago for a film based on his story. In his petition, Jose also said that when Kaduva, which is scripted by Jinu Abraham and director Shaji Kailas, went on floors, he came to know that its protagonist Kaduvakunnel Kuruvachan is portrayed as a goon who picks fights with authority figures and this portrays him in bad light. It also violates his right to privacy, according to the petition.

The legal counsel for the makers of Kaduva, Binoy Kadavan, had established that the petitioner was aware that the movie had gone on floors, and his decision to approach the court just when it is about to release mirrors mala fide intent. The petition was dismissed taking into account that the previous plea by the petitioner was also rejected and that the movie was not a biopic.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court also passed an order, stating that it would not interfere with the session court’s decision to stay the release of Suresh Gopi’s Ottakomban. Jinu had accused that the movie’s script was plagiarised from Kaduva’s.

Meanwhile, Kaduva is set to release in theatres next month. The big-budget ‘mass’ action-entertainer, which also has Vivek Oberoi, Samyuktha Menon, Arjun Ashokan, Seema, Rahul Madhav and Baiju Santosh, has Prithviraj playing a Mundakkayam-based planter. It revolves around an ego clash between the protagonist and a police officer, essayed by Vivek.

Also read: SC dismisses appeal of makers of Suresh Gopi film against copyright case of Prithviraj, Jinu Abraham’s Kaduva