Eega makers send legal notice to makers of Malayalam film Lovely for copyright infringement of housefly VFX

Eega and lovely spark controversy over housefly VFX

Malayalam film Lovely hit the theatres in May, and the film has landed in legal trouble for featuring a housefly. The makers of the 2012 film, Eega, have recently issued a legal notice to the recently released film, accusing it of copyright infringement.

The makers have claimed that the design of the housefly used in Lovely resembles that of S. S. Rajamouli’s superhit film. Eega makers have sent a legal notice to the Lovely creators for the use of the same VFX.

In the legal notice, the Eega makers claimed that the housefly design is their sole property and their production house has the exclusive rights to all the visual, artistic, and narrative elements of the film, including the character.

The notice continued, “Any reproduction or imitation of this character, without our client's explicit consent, constitutes copyright infringement under said law."

The makers further claimed that the “central character, a reincarnated housefly, was conceived and developed through advanced VFX methodologies including macro photography, anatomical modelling and behavioural studies of real flies.”

Also Read: Fire breaks out on the sets of Rupali Ganguly's Anupamaa, AICWA seeks investigation

“These visual effects were led by professionals including RC Kamalakannan and Pete Draper of Makuta VFX, establishing the housefly as a unique and recognisable creation owned solely by our client (the production house),” added Eega makers.

Meanwhile, Lovely director Dileesh Karunakaran has debunked the accusation of plagiarism. He has also claimed that he has technical proof to establish the originality of Lovely’s CGI work.

Eega stars Nani, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Sudeep in the pivotal role. The film was produced by Daggubati Suresh Babu, Sai Korrapati.