Sarah Aboobakker wins plagiarism case against filmmaker

Mangaluru: Kannada writer Sarah Aboobakker has successfully contested a legal case of plagiarism of her famed work Chandragiriya Teeradalli that led to making of Swarna Kamal award winning movie Byari,the first ever movie made in Beary language. Upholding her contention, the third additional district and sessions’ court in its judgement directed Altaf Hussain, the producer not to screen the movie anywhere henceforth.
Incidentally, Altaf also stars in a prominent role in the film, the writer stated in a press note on Monday.
\Directed by K P Suveeran, the film bagged the Swarna Kamal award at the 59th National Film Awards. Sarah moved the court in 2011 after she noticed that filmmakers had based the film Byari on her much-famed novel. The judge Muralidhar Pai B upheld her contention that there was an infringement of her intellectual property rights.
Filmmakers to pay
compensation
The court also directed the filmmakers to pay her a compensation of Rs 2 lakh with an interest for the period that the case was in trial, that is, eight years and 12 days, along with the court costs. Sarah said her novel was published as a serial in Lankesh Patrike and had evoked intense passion and discussion. “The novel has a history of having attracted a vast legion of readers and fans who appreciated it,” she said.
The filmmakers have used the story in the novel without my permission, Sarah said, adding this brazen act of theirs forced her to approach the court for justice.
The writer recalled the role senior advocate late Gauri Shankar pl`ayed in handling her case, before handing it over to another advocate Shyam Rao due to ill-health.