Bombay High Court Decision Delays Release of Bhool Chuk Maaf
On May 9, 2025, the Bombay High Court issued an important interim ruling that will affect the release of the film Bhool Chuk Maaf. The court granted temporary relief to PVR Inox Limited, preventing Maddock Films and its partners from launching the film on any platform, including OTT services, until an 8-week period after its first theatrical showing in India. This decision came after PVR Inox urgently requested the court’s intervention due to Maddock Films cancelling their agreement just a day before the film’s planned release.
The crux of the issue arose after Maddock Films cited national security concerns as the reason for their abrupt cancellation of the theatrical release and their shift to a direct OTT release on May 16, primarily through Amazon Prime Video. PVR Inox argued that this cancellation violated their contract, which clearly stated that the film needed to be released in theaters first and required an 8-week hold before it could be available digitally.
Maddock Films contended that the exclusivity clause only applied if the film was released in theaters, claiming they had the right to decide the release platform as copyright holders. They also argued that PVR Inox, having sought damages, should not be able to pursue an injunction.
PVR Inox’s lawyer highlighted that all 31 PVR theaters in New Delhi were ready for the release, having conducted promotional activities and secured significant advance ticket sales. This countered Maddock’s claim about increased security risks leading to the change. The court pointed out that Maddock failed to provide any official documentation to support their decision and noted that the only cited incident of a cinema closure was unrelated to their film’s original release plans.
Justice Arif S Doctor observed that Maddock Films’ decision to opt for a direct-to-OTT approach appeared to be based on profit calculations rather than genuine safety concerns. He emphasized that such reasoning does not justify backing out of a legally binding agreement, especially given that the contract did not include a force majeure clause.
In contrast, PVR Inox had adhered to its end of the agreement by securing theaters nationwide, promoting the film, and starting ticket sales ahead of the expected release date. The court acknowledged that a sudden cancellation could lead to financial losses and damage PVR’s reputation.
Additionally, the court rejected the idea that PVR could not seek an injunction because it had also requested damages. The law allows for such dual requests, and the court reinforced that Maddock Films could not simply choose the release method without honoring the contract terms.
The matter is set for further discussion on June 16, 2025. Until then, Bhool Chuk Maaf will remain off OTT platforms and other non-theatrical avenues in India.
