Animal OTT release in trouble? Co-producer Cine 1 Studios moves court over unpaid dues

Hyderabad: In a dramatic turn of events, Cine 1 Studios, a co-producer of the much-anticipated Bollywood film ‘Animal,’ has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on its release on OTT platforms, digital streaming services, and satellite broadcast.

The legal dispute centres around allegations of breach of agreement and unpaid dues, with the film’s release on Netflix scheduled for January 26, following its theatrical debut on December 1, 2023.

Cine 1 Studios Pvt Ltd claims that it has not received any payment and cites a breach of agreement as the primary reason for seeking a stay on the OTT release. The co-producer contends that it was not paid a single penny for its involvement in the film, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga.

‘Cine 1 Studios received Rs 2.6 crores’

On the other side of the courtroom, Super Cassettes Industries Pvt Ltd, another co-producer of Animal, counters these claims by asserting that Rs 2.6 crores was paid to Cine 1 Studios, a fact that was not disclosed to the court.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Cine 1 Studios, expressed the plaintiff’s dissatisfaction, alleging that they have not been provided with any information about the film’s revenue, box office collection, music, satellite, or Internet rights.

“They (Super Cassettes) have been collecting all the money but I have not been paid a single penny... I have a long relationship with them but they have no respect for the agreement. I had the regard for the relationship and the sanctity of the contract therefore, I did not rush to court,” Sethi submitted.

According to the plaint filed by Cine 1 Studios, the two production houses had agreed to produce Animal, with Cine 1 claiming a 35 per cent profit share and intellectual property rights. The plaintiff alleges that Super Cassettes incurred expenses and received revenues without sharing details or paying the agreed-upon profit share.

‘Information hid from court’

Senior advocate Amit Sibal, representing Super Cassettes, presented a document signed between the parties, claiming that Cine 1 Studios concealed information about relinquishing its intellectual property rights in the film for Rs 2.6 crores. Sibal contends that the critical information was deliberately hidden from the court.

As the legal battle unfolds, the court has scheduled the next hearing for January 18, where the plaintiff’s counsel is expected to provide information about the claimed payment of Rs 2.6 crores and ensure the presence of the authorised signatory of Cine 1 Studios.

The outcome of this legal tussle will likely have significant implications for the release of Animal on OTT platforms and the resolution of financial disputes between the co-producers.