Kottayam: Director Major Ravi has suffered a setback in the long-running legal dispute over the screenplay of the Mohanlal-starrer Karmayodha. The Kottayam Commercial Court ruled that the script belongs to screenwriter Reji Mathew of Puthuppally.
The court ordered Major Ravi to pay ₹30 lakh as compensation and also granted copyright ownership of the film to Reji Mathew.
The verdict comes after a 13-year legal battle. The film was released in 2012. Reji Mathew had alleged that his story, screenplay, and dialogues were used without his consent.
He had approached the court one month before the film’s release seeking a stay. The court allowed the release after a deposit of ₹5 lakh, noting that there was a dispute over authorship. However, the film was released crediting Shaji and Sumeesh as writers.
Subsequently, Reji Mathew approached the court again seeking ₹40 lakh compensation, citing violation of court orders. The court has now ruled in his favour.
