Bollywood upcoming release ‘Mohenjo Daro‘ is all set to hit the theatres on August 12. Since the release of the Mohenjo Daro trailer, the film garnered negative response for now showing the history in the right way in the trailer. Apart from that, Director Ashutosh Gowariker also being on the target point for plagiarism of the script from the play of the same name. At latest, play writer Akashaditya Lama hold a press conference to talk about the plagiarism of his play script ‘Mohenjo Daro’ by the director and asked him to come in front and talk about it.
Here’s what Akashaditya Lama has said in a statement, “While it is with utmost sorrow that I talk about the extremity of plagiarism in the film industry, I am also disappointed at the outcome of our judicial system with the judgment that was recently passed in my case against the makers of the film, Mohenjodaro. Today, I see how things can be manipulated for powerful and big people. The fact that the Honorable Single judge court chose not to consider the evidence I produced, I feel completely ignored. Although this judgment was not passed in my favour, I am not giving up just yet. I brought this matter up with Mr. Ashutosh Gowariker on 12th August 2010 for the first time. Since then, I have been fighting this battle. Our country is a democratic country and I firmly believe that one day I will get the justice I deserve. I am trying hard to fight because I wrote the script for Mohenjodaro when I was 18 years old and have since spearheaded the Mohenjodaro play across the India for private and government organizations. This subject is very close to my heart. Hence, I challenge to Mr. Gowarikerto please come forward and have a single one-on-one interaction with me. If he can prove me wrong, I am willing to drop this case immediately. I have presented most of evidences with the media in the Yesterday (9-Aug) press conference in Mumbai, I am also going to challenge this judgment in the Supreme Court very soon. My intention is not to harm the film and it is not cheap publicity that I am after. I even conveyed this to Mr. Gowariker in 2010. I understand that making a film is not a single person’s hard work; many people struggle day and night to make it happen. And so, I am not here with the intention to malign anyone. But, I am fighting for justice and for my rights. All I want is to prove that I am not wrong, and that Mohenjodaro is my concept and my script.
For those who do not know what’s been happening, let me update you.
I conceived the idea of Mohenjodaro in 1995, while studying in Gwalior. In 2003, I shared this script with well-known film editor, Ballu Saluja, one of Ashutosh Gowariker’s associates. I sent him (Gowariker) a handwritten script through Saluja, which he returned after four days saying that he had just directed a period movie (Lagaan) and didn’t wish to make another one immediately. Meanwhile I made some changes with time and registered the script in 2007 under the title, Saamrajya, with copy right office Delhi. I was afraid that the title and script could be stolen as period dramas became a vogue since Lagaan and Gadar – ek prem katha.
I re -registered the same script once again under the title Mohenjodarowith the Ministry of Human Resources Development and the Department of Higher Education, Government of India, under the Copyright Act, this time online, in February 2010. Two days later, I registered the same script for the third time with the Film Writers Association, Mumbai.
A few years ago, a friend told me that Gowariker had stolen my original script for Mohenjodaro. That’s when, on August 12, 2010, I emailed Mr. Gowariker on his personal email ID. When I asked him about it, the filmmaker chose not to respond to my doubts or meet me. In the meanwhile, my play, Mohenjodaro, was being staged across the country and had become a huge success, following which I intended to make a feature film of it too. But, I was surprised to learn that Gowariker had already commenced his film’s preproduction. After confirming from several sources that his Mohenjodaro’s script is very similar to mine, I sent him another email on July 18, 2014, reminding him about the script I had sent to him in 2002-2003.Mr. Gowariker chose to remain silent and never responded to anything I had to say. His silence forced me to seek justice through our system. I sent him a legal notice on March 2015, after which I filed a case against him in November 2015.
Many portions of my script were stolen as it is and it hurts that my hard work and creativity not recognized. I am not giving up hope. Not yet!”
After reading his point of view, we can clearly say that this is an old issue which needs to be addressed in the proper way. As the court has already given its decision in favour of the makers, so we can’t come up with our opinions on it. But, it would be a great thing if Ashutosh Gowariker comes in front and talk about it.
