Drishyam OTT row: Delhi High Court issues restraining order against Aashirvad Cinemas

In an ex-parte ruling, Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar of the Delhi High Court has granted Amazon Seller Services (Prime Video) interim protection by blocking Aashirvad Cinemas from transferring the OTT rights of the Drishyam franchise to any third party. The legal intervention follows a petition from Amazon, which contends that a 2020 contract guarantees their ownership of all future installments in the film series.

According to Bar and Bench, the court's order explicitly safeguards Amazon's commercial interests: “Till the next date of hearing, the respondents are restrained from creating or otherwise dealing with any third-party rights in respect of the non-linear internet-based rights in the film tentatively titled Drishyam 3."

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The agreement featured a pivotal clause granting Amazon exclusive negotiation rights for licensing any new installments within the franchise. This provision strictly barred the production house from entertaining outside offers while discussions were in progress. However, a dispute arose when Aashirvad Cinemas allegedly bypassed these terms, attempting to secure a better deal elsewhere before the ongoing negotiations with Amazon had concluded.

To protect its contractual interests in the upcoming Drishyam 3, Amazon sought interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The resulting court injunction specifically covers the non-linear internet rights for the film, extending to the original Malayalam version, all dubbed editions, and the planned Hindi remake.

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At a subsequent hearing, the Court was notified that Amazon and Aashirvad Cinemas are currently pursuing a mutual settlement, with a resolution expected within two weeks. In the interim, the Court has slated the next follow-up for May 15, maintaining the stay against Aashirvad Cinemas until that time.