A legal row has broken out between the makers of the Malayalam film 'Lovely' and the team behind the 2012 hit Eega over a CGI housefly. Producer Sai Korrapati, who backed SS Rajamouli's Eega, has accused the Lovely team of copying the look and style of their iconic CGI housefly. He has issued a legal notice, claiming that the animated insect in Lovely closely resembles the one that captured hearts in Eega over a decade ago.
The controversy has sparked a bigger conversation about creativity and copyright, with both parties refusing to back down. The director of Lovely, Dileesh Karunakaran, has firmly denied any form of plagiarism, stating that the film's CGI was developed independently. He claims that technical evidence exists to prove the originality of the film's visual effects. The dispute has already generated curiosity among viewers, and the matter may head to court.
The controversy comes just as Lovely begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video, in its original Malayalam version with English subtitles. The film, which was released in theaters on May 16 in Malayalam and Telugu, failed to perform well at the box office. Despite its poor box office performance, the film is now drawing attention not for its story, but for its VFX.
The legal row between the makers of Lovely and Eega highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property in the film industry. With both parties determined to prove their point, the dispute is likely to have far-reaching implications for the industry. As the matter unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the courts rule on this issue.