Ram Gopal Verma speaking to Z-news.
2 July 2007 (Sawf News) - Maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is renaming his remake of Ramesh Sippy's 1975 classic Sholay as Ram Gopal Varma Ke Aag, after failing to arrive at a settlement with the copyright holders.
Varma is also changing the names of the copyrighted characters. Gabbar Singh will now be Baban Singh, Basanti will be Ghungroo, Radha will be Devi, Soorma Bhopali will be Rambhai and Sambha will be Tambhe.
Sippy Films Pvt Ltd. and Sholay Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd. have in a petition to the Delhi High Court contended that the use of Sholay, Gabbar and Gabbar Singh by Ram Gopal Varma Productions infringes on their copyrights.
Amitabh Bachchan plays Gabbar Singh’s role in RGV's Sholay. Photo Credit: TV GrabThe petitioners claim that the script and screenplay of Sholay are original literary works and they have registered the names, Sholay, Gabbar and Gabbar Singh, under the Copyright Act as well as the Trademark Act 1999.
RGV had reportedly bought the right to remake Sholay from Ajit Sippy, son of GP Sippy, who produced the original 1975 blockbuster in the name of Sippy Films Pvt Ltd. The petitioners claim "Ajit did not have any rights to sell."
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