Court issues order against Sumathi Studios over Chandran Rutnam’s film ’Rizana: A Caged Bird’

Colombo, July 21 (Daily Mirror) - The Colombo Commercial High Court issued an Enjoining Order restraining Jagath Sumathipala and Sumathi Studios from screening, releasing, distributing, broadcasting, selling, licensing or otherwise commercially exploiting the film presently titled 'Rihanna', formerly titled 'Rizana: A Caged Bird', without the consent of its director and co-producer, Chandran Rutnam.

The order was issued by Colombo Commercial High Court Judge Amali Ranaweera following a plaint filed by Chandran Rutnam, who alleged that the defendants had, without his knowledge or authority, renamed the film, altered its content and attempted to commercially exploit the work while misrepresenting its authorship and creative credits.

The plaintiff further alleged that the defendants sought to edit, modify, reproduce, re-shoot, transfer or license rights in the film to third parties, while attributing directorial, producer and authorship credits to persons other than the plaintiff.

President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, appearing for the plaintiff submitted to court that Chandran Rutnam conceived, developed, directed and co-produced the film, which represents his original creative vision and artistic expression and that the moral rights of the creator of a cinematographic work and the creator’s right to be identified as its author and director is protected under the Intellectual Property Act.

It was further submitted that the unauthorised alteration and exploitation of the film constituted an infringement of the plaintiff’s moral rights, copyright and related rights under the Intellectual Property Act.

Chandran Rutnam is a nationally and internationally acclaimed film director, visionary filmmaker and distinguished entrepreneur of exceptional repute. According to the plaint, Chandran Rutnam has received numerous prestigious awards and accolades, including the Best Director and Best Picture awards for 'A Common Man' at the Madrid International Film Festival, the Best Picture award for 'According to Matthew' at the Derana Lux Film Awards, and the Best Picture award for 'The Pilgrimage' at the Presidential Awards and has served as jury member in local and international film festivals.

Chandran Rutnam’s film, 'Rizana: A Caged Bird' was inspired by the tragic story of Rizana Nafeek, a young Sri Lankan domestic worker from the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, who was recruited and sent to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to work as a domestic worker on a forged passport as a minor who was subsequently executed. 

Chandran Rutnam being deeply moved by the gravity and significance of this story, considered it his moral and creative obligation as a filmmaker to bring this story to the world stage, given its profound implications for the exploitation of Sri Lankan workers abroad and the vulnerability of young women in foreign employment.

Upul Jayasiruya PC, together with Laknath Senavirathna, Naduni Madara and Yashodha Fernando instructed by Invictus Law appeared for the plaintiff, Chandran Rutnam.