Panorama assures Bombay High Court for not shooting Drishyam 2 amid copyright pending suit against Viacom

Panorama Studios International has assured the Bombay High Court that it would be not shooting for Drishyam 2 till the copyright suit filed against it is pending, as Viacom 18 Media has approached the Court for restraining Panorama Studios from producing any sequel.

Panorama Studios has acquired the Hindi remake rights of the Malayalam film Drishyam 2. Viacom has alleged the infringement of copyright and other rights in the production of the sequel in Drishyam franchise. Alleging infringement, Viacom sought interim relief by way of injunction.

Viacom said that it has entered into the Remake Rights Agreement with Wide Angle Creations and Raj Kumar Theatres Pvt Ltd which has given the copyright to produce the new film adapting movie Drishyam. The agreement did not work between Panorama and Viacom for producing the prequel and sequel of the movie.

"The statement is that the defendants (Panorama) will not themselves or through any other person with whom they may have a contract or arrangement, begin shooting of the film in question i.e. a sequel to the film Drishyam," the order said.

HC further noted that "The production house also accepts that if they take up any preparatory work, such as developing a treatment, script, screenplay or dialogue, this will be at their own risk and that they will not be entitled to claim any equities on that basis in the future."