Scriptwriter’s case: HC dismisses filmmaker’s appeal

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma got no respite from the Bombay High Court, which dismissed his appeal challenging an order passed by the Film Writers’ Association (FWA) in April 2009.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma got no respite from the Bombay High Court, which dismissed his appeal challenging an order passed by the Film Writers’ Association (FWA) in April 2009.

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Verma had approached the high court challenging the decision of the Film Writers’ Association (FWA) asking him to pay Rs 8 lakh to Sajit Warrier, a writer, whose story was allegedly the basis for Verma’s 2009 film ‘Agyaat’. In April 2009, the Settlement Commission of Film Writers’ Association had asked Verma to pay Rs 8 lakh to Warrier as compensation.

Warrier had alleged that Verma had taken one of his stories to make the film. In his complaint, Warrier claimed he had met Verma at his office in 2008, discussed the story with him and also gave him a copy of his story. Warrier said that when matters did not progress with Verma, he approached UTV Films, who agreed to make the film. UTV was to pay Warrier Rs 8 lakh.

When Warrier learnt of Verma’s film Agyaat, he issued a notice to the filmmaker, and then lodged a complaint with the association. On April 8, 2009, the FWA asked Verma to deposit the amount in 15 days, FWA’s advocate Himanshu Kane said. Verma challenged the order in the high court.