No plagiarism but life rights debate haunts October

Mumbai: While Screenwriters Association (SA) ruled out charges of plagiarism and infringement of copyright against Shoojit Sircar’s October, they said that they are “inclined to believe that the source material for both the films may be the same”. The report comes as a light rap on the knuckles for the makers of October for allegedly disregarding life rights. After the release of Mr. Sircar’s film, Marathi filmmaker Sarika Mene had alleged that October has been plagiarised from her August 2017 Marathi film, Aarti--The Unknown Love Story, which itself is based on the life of Sunny Pawar, Ms. Mene’s younger brother. In 2006, Mr. Pawar was in news for dedicating four years of his life to his girlfriend Aarti who had slipped into a coma after a car accident.

Mr. Pawar was not acknowledged in either October's credits or the promotions. In a report issued by the Association to Ms. Mene, screenwriter of October, Juhi Chaturvedi, and Rising Sun Films, they said that the committee “strongly feels” that Ms. Mene’s film bears certain striking similarities to the actual incident that was reported in the news reports and articles. “As a matter of principle and on purely ethical and humanitarian grounds, if [October] has been inspired by the source material, then they should have sought permission from the families involved in the said incident or at the very least, acknowledged the said incident as a source of inspiration.” However, SA added that the makers of October are not under any legal obligation to take permission or acknowledge Mr. Pawar.

When contacted, Ms. Chaturvedi highlighted the importance of “if” in the statement, saying that the word is very pertinent as it leaves a window open for debate. She added that she respects the report and the Association, but “will wait for some more time and allow the film’s legal team to issue a formal response”.

Mr. Pawar said that the makers of October have commercialised his real story to make money, without acknowledging him. “I have lived that life and trauma, and someone’s imagination cannot be exactly like your life,” he said.

The report also pointed out some “conceptual similarities” between the two films saying that it is difficult to determine “unequivocally and without ambivalence” that these similarities exist due to plagiarism. While Ms. Mene is happy with the Association pointing out common conceptual elements, she said that the sequence of events in her brother’s story wasn't available in any news reports, pointing to a case of plagiarism. “If all my evidence is in place and if the other party is pleading coincidence then give us evidence,” said Ms. Mene, who now plans to approach the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association to review the two films, along with the makers of October, in the hope of reaching a consensus.