Overview

• PVR Inox sued Maddock Films for ₹60 crore, alleging breach of contract after the producers canceled the film’s theatrical release a day before its scheduled debut.
• The Bombay High Court granted an interim injunction, preventing the direct-to-OTT release of Bhool Chuk Maaf until the agreed eight-week theatrical exclusivity period is observed.
• Maddock Films cited national security concerns following the Pahalgam terror attack as the reason for the shift to an OTT release, but PVR Inox disputes this, attributing the decision to poor advance bookings.
• The court noted Maddock Films did not provide official government documentation supporting its security rationale and highlighted that promotional efforts and advance bookings were already underway in PVR theaters.
• The case highlights growing tensions between producers and exhibitors over release strategies, with potential implications for future agreements in the evolving post-pandemic distribution landscape.