Kottayam: Film director Major Ravi suffered a major legal setback in a long-running dispute over the screenplay of the Mohanlal-starrer ‘Karmayodha’. The Kottayam Commercial Court has ruled that the film’s screenplay belongs to Reji Mathew, a scriptwriter from Puthuppally, and not to the makers of the film.

The court directed the defendants to pay ₹30 lakh as compensation to the complainant and also awarded him the copyright of the film. The verdict was delivered after a 13-year-long legal battle. Karmayodha was released in 2012.

The judgment was delivered by Commercial Court Judge Manish D A on a complaint filed by Reji Mathew, who alleged that the film was produced using his story, screenplay and dialogues without permission. Reji Mathew had approached the court a month before the film’s release, seeking to stay its release. The court allowed the release after the producers deposited ₹5 lakh, directing to have a note that there was a dispute regarding the story, screenplay and dialogues.

However, the film was released by crediting Shaji and Sumesh as writers, which Reji Mathew argued was a violation of the court’s order. He later approached the court again, seeking ₹40 lakh as compensation and a declaration that the story, screenplay and dialogues were his.

Major Ravi was the first accused in the case. The other accused included producer Haneef Mohammed, Shaji S V, Sumesh and Robin. Major Ravi contended that the story was his own and claimed that he had discussed it with several writers, including Reji Mathew.