The Delhi High Court has refused to grant an interim injunction to halt the release of the sports-centric film Doosra, dismissing a plea moved by former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly against the unauthorized use of his archival footage and persona. Ganguly had approached the court seeking an immediate stay on the film's theatrical and digital premiere, contending that the production commercially exploited his celebrated imagery and personality rights without prior consent. The central dispute revolves around the extensive utilization of historic broadcast footage, particularly his iconic shirt-waving celebration from the Lord's balcony following India's memorable victory in the 2002 NatWest Series final.

Court Declines Eleventh-Hour Injunction

A single-judge bench of the High Court observed that historical events already in the public domain and widely documented in news broadcasts could not warrant a last-minute injunction against the cinematic release. The bench emphasized that the filmmakers were depicting a transformative narrative centered on Indian cricket history rather than falsely attributing direct endorsements by the former cricketer. The court noted that balancing the creative freedom of filmmakers against personality rights requires careful evaluation, concluding that Ganguly had not demonstrated an irreparable injury that could not be remedied through monetary damages should an infringement subsequently be established.

Core Arguments in the Personality Rights Dispute

During the proceedings, legal representatives representing Sourav Ganguly raised several key contentions: * Commercial Exploitation: Counsel argued that the promotional materials, trailers, and film narrative relied extensively on Ganguly's likeness and famous cricket moments to market the project commercially. * Lack of Authorization: The petition claimed that no formal consent or license had been procured from the former BCCI president for utilizing his persona. * Protection of Persona: The plea insisted that celebrity rights protect public figures from having their identities co-opted for commercial entertainment without authorization. In defense, the producers maintained that the documentary-style narrative captures a cultural turning point in Indian sporting history. They submitted that public archival materials depicting celebrated sporting triumphs are legitimate historical facts, and restricting their portrayal would severely impede freedom of expression in biographical and historical storytelling.

Broader Legal Precedent

The ruling adds another key precedent to the evolving jurisprudence on celebrity rights and artistic expression in India. Courts have increasingly drawn a line between direct commercial merchandise endorsements and creative or documentary depictions of momentous public events. With the court declining an immediate restraining order, Doosra clears a significant hurdle toward its scheduled release, even as the primary suit concerning potential damages remains subject to further legal scrutiny.