Most Watched Film On OTT Is A Copy?

Aamir Khan Productions’ Laapata Ladies turned out to be one of the most-watched films on Netflix. It beat the views of a blockbuster like Animal.

Now the film has found itself in a controversy.

Director cum actor Ananth Mahadevan has alleged that Lapataa Ladies is copied from his 1999 telefilm Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol.

Mahadevan claims both films share key plot points, particularly involving the mix-up of two brides. He notes that in his film, a groom mistakenly takes the wrong bride from a railway station, leading to a mix-up that results in the couples eventually swapping partners.

Supporters, including author Nivedita Shukla, have voiced their backing for Mahadevan on social media.

Shukla pointed out that Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol was available on YouTube but was removed after the release of Lapataa Ladies. She criticized the perceived lack of ethics in the film industry.

However, Biplab Goswami, the writer of Lapataa Ladies, insists that his story is entirely original. He claims he wrote the synopsis a decade ago and won a scriptwriting contest in 2018 with it.

Goswami asserts that he has not seen Mahadevan’s film and was not inspired by any other work. He emphasizes his background in studying gender issues and maintains that he adheres to ethical writing standards.

Despite the allegations, the two films diverge significantly after the initial mix-up, according to Mahadevan. He acknowledges similarities in specific scenes but emphasizes that the overall narratives are different.