No stay on Hindi remake of Suriya's Soorarai Pottru - Madras High Court

  

Suriya's 2D Entertainment  stance that it had no agreement to remake the film with erstwhile partners Sikhya Entertainment and it was limited to procuring the rights of the novel from them to do the film was accepted by the Madras High Court who had issued a stay on the Hindi remake. Sikhya had filed for a stay saying that the film cannot be remade without their permission as they are partners.  2D had paid Rs 3 crores for the rights held by Sikhya .

According to sources, 2D Entertainment had pleaded that it had paid Sikhya Entertainment a huge sum for facilitating the acquisition of the rights of the book “Simply Fly” from Captain Gopinath, apart from the actual rights money paid by 2D Entertainment.

Soorarai Pottru, directed by Sudha Kongara, emerged as a blockbuster. It was screened at the 78th Golden Globe Awards and the Academy awards 2020. It also went on to become the most watched regional language film in the history of Amazon Prime Video in India. The film is also currently the third highest rated film on IMDb and has a rating of 9.1, only behind The Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather. The film won the best film and best actor awards at the IFF Melbourne recently.

The highly acclaimed film's Hindi version is to be directed by Sudha Kongara who also helmed the original. In July this year, 2D Entertainment had announced its partnership with Abundantia Entertainment to produce the film’s remake in Hindi, work on which will resume in full swing now.

False claim stalls Suriya's Soorarai Pottru ( Udaan in Amazon Prime) Hindi remake ( Update)

 2D Entertainments producers of Soorarai Pottru has issued a statement clarifying the High Court order -  We have paid Sikhya Entertainment a huge sum of 3 crores for facilitating the acquisition of the rights of the book “Simply Fly”, apart from the actual rights money and Sikkiya’s expenses that we separately paid. Therefore, there is no iota of truth in their claims made in the case filed against 2D," Rajsekar Karpoorasundarapandian said.

"They have filed a baseless case to unnecessarily cause delay and unlawfully enrich themselves. We have all the necessary records to show that we are in the right and we will defend this legally," he added . Close on the heels of Suriya announcing four film deal with Amazon, comes the news that his  Tamil starrer Soorarai Pottru remake in Hindi has been stayed by Madras High Court as co- producer Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment has cited violation of the agreement they had with 2D Entertainments owned by the actor. Sikhya was co- producer of the Tamil film based on the life of G. R. Gopinath, the founder of Simplifly Deccan, India’s first low-cost carrier. 

The reason for the company to move the Court was that 2D had without consulting it sold the rights to Abundantia Entertainment. Any remake of the said film has to be done only with both parties agreeing to it. The Hindi was to be directed by Sudha Kongara who directed the original and Akashay Kumar is tipped to reprise Suriya's role in the remake. Shahid Kapoor the first choice asked for Rs 30 cr and share in profits. Akshay charges Rs 1 cr per day and being a remake the days of shoot for him would be only less than 30.

The Tamil film angered exhibitors as it was the first major STAR film to release directly on OTT ( Amazon).  Suriya defended the decision saying - " Sometimes, people take extra time to understand. It’s only for the larger good that we have gone the OTT way. No one can compensate what the theatrical experience can give you. But, I’m thankful that we’re able to connect to fans via Amazon Prime Video."  The film's censor certificate was delayed as IAF clearance was needed due to some scenes shot in IAF airbases.

With a rating of 9.1, ‘Soorarai Pottru’ created history as the only Indian film to be listed third on IMDb’s highest rated films list only behind two legendary films – Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Godfather (1972).