Hari Puttar wins legal row
2008-09-24 14:28
Mumbai - A Bollywood comedy called Hari Puttar was set to premiere in Mumbai later on Wednesday after winning a legal battle against US studio Warner Bros over its title.
Warner Bros, the entertainment giant which owns the rights to the blockbuster Harry Potter films, had sought to block the release of the Indian movie on the grounds that its title sounded too similar to the name of the wizard hero of their series.
The Delhi High Court on Monday threw out the petition by Warner Bros, saying that readers of the Harry Potter books, written by JK Rowling, were sufficiently educated to know Hari Puttar was different.
Makers of the Bollywood film said they were looking forward to the film's release, after it was delayed for weeks because of the lawsuit.
"It distracted us from marketing, but we are looking forward to making waves at the box office," Munish Purii, chief operating officer of production house Mirchi Movies, said.
"We have fantastic expectations. Every kid is looking forward to watching it."
Hari Puttar - A Comedy of Terrors is about the adventures of a 10-year-old Indian boy whose family moves to England.
The film will open in 200 cinemas across India on Friday, and is slated to open in a few weeks in the US and Britain.
- AFP