Mumbai: Amboli police on Monday filed an FIR against film producers Gopala Pillai Vijaykumar and M Paul Michael for alleged cheating and defamation linked to the copyright of the 1989 Malayalam film ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’, which was remade into Hindi movie ‘Hera Pheri’.The action was taken based on a complaint by Hindi film producer Firoz Nadiadwala, who alleged that the two made false copyright violation claims about ‘Hera Pheri’.As per the FIR, the remake rights of ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’ were sold in 1993 by Sarga Chitra to Compact Disc India, and Nadiadwala’s firm legally purchased the rights from it for Rs 4.5 lakh on March 24, 2000. He acquired the copyright for Hindi and other languages, excluding Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.Nadiadwala’s complaint said: “In 2000, producers M Paul Michael and Siddique-Lal claimed copyright and story rights and attempted to prevent the global release of ‘Hera Pheri’.” He said he later filed a complaint with the Mumbai police chief. He alleged Michael and Siddique, through intermediaries, then contacted him, threatened him and demanded money. They allegedly warned that they would create legal hurdles at the last moment before the film’s release, causing fear and pressure. Siddique died in 2023.On Dec 30, 2024, Nadiadwala said, he received a copyright violation notice from Vijaykumar and Michael. In Oct 2025, Vijaykumar filed a petition in Madras HC, saying Seven Arts International Ltd purchased the copyright of ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’ from Sarga Chitra for Rs 3 lakh in 2022. He alleged that this claim was fabricated and intended to cheat, and that the accused were now demanding Rs 60 lakh and 25% of the profits from ‘Hera Pheri’.Nadiadwala alleged the accused spread false information about copyright on online platforms and in the media.
