Raanjhanaa re-release: Director Anand L Rai and producer at loggerheads over AI-tweaked climax

The unrequited romance drama, starring Tamil celebrity Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, ended with the lead actor’s dying. Not anymore — no less than within the Tamil model.

“The timeless love story returns to the big screen! #Ambikapathy re-releasing in theatres from August 1st… A new ending powered by AI,” Upswing Entertainment stated whereas making the announcement earlier this month. The Hindi movie was launched as Ambikapathy within the Tamil dubbed model in 2013.

Eros has collaborated with Upswing Entertainment on regional market outreach and promotions for the Tamil language re-release. Rai was dismayed.

“I’m heartbroken that this is the future we’re heading toward, where intent and authorship are disposable. All I can do is dissociate myself from such a reckless and dystopian experiment,” he stated in a press release to PTI.

“Raanjhanaa didn’t want a brand new climax. It had coronary heart, and honesty. It grew to become a cult movie as a result of individuals linked to it with its flaws, and imperfections. To see its ending altered with out a phrase of debate is a gross violation not simply of the movie, however of the belief of the followers who’ve carried the movie of their hearts for 12 years,” the filmmaker stated.

Eros, in its response shared over mail with PTI, stated the movie’s re-release is a part of the corporate’s broader technique to refresh and reintroduce basic cinematic works to newer audiences in regional markets.

“This is a creative reimagining, not a replacement, and is consistent with global industry practices including anniversary editions, alternate cuts, and modernised remasters,” the corporate’s group CEO Pradeep Dwivedi stated.

“We categorically reject Mr. Rai’s allegations, which are not only factually incorrect but also legally unfounded. The re-release is a respectful reinterpretation and not a ‘tampering’ of the original. It is clearly positioned as an alternate, AI-enhanced version—akin to Classic cuts or re-edits seen globally.”

The producer of a cinematographic work, beneath Indian legislation, is its authorized writer and ethical rights vest with the producer—not the director, the corporate added. Raanjhanaa was directed by Rai from a script penned by Himanshu Sharma.

Set in Varanasi and Delhi, the story follows Kundan (Dhanush), a Hindu boy who falls in love with Zoya (Kapoor), a Muslim woman, from childhood. Towards the tip of the movie, Kundan is shot at a rally and dies later at a hospital. In Rai’s view, Eros’ actions in altering the tip opens a “dangerous door”.

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“They elevate pressing authorized and moral questions of the influence of selections like this on the ethical rights of creators. Even worse is their obvious resolution to change the actors’ contributions with out their consent! How can they digitally manipulate an actor’s enter virtually a decade after a movie’s launch? This strips away their company, and lift severe issues beneath persona and picture rights.”

If such a transfer goes “unquestioned”, he warned, it might set a precedent for comparable actions sooner or later. “What stops anyone from ‘updating’ any film, performance, or legacy to suit short-term profiteering?” he requested.

Eros stated they’ve all the time been on the forefront of leveraging rising applied sciences. The goal of the choice ending is to reinforce viewer engagement and current a recent perspective—one that enhances the unique storyline and is clearly labelled as an alternate model.

Asked if the movie’s group was saved within the loop, the corporate stated Eros holds the only and unique copyright and producer rights of Raanjhanaa, together with the authorized and ethical rights beneath Indian legislation. “The reinterpretation has been developed with sensitivity and respect for the original creative team’s contribution,” Dwivedi stated within the assertion.

The firm stated it has acknowledged “Mr Rai’s concerns and responded to him respectfully, reiterating our legal position and creative intent”.

“We regret that he has chosen to publicly distance himself from the project, despite the film being a product of collaborative effort where rights are lawfully vested with the producer. Our re-release is an homage to the film’s legacy, not a deviation from it. All rights, decisions, and creative control related to Raanjhanaa remain solely with Eros International Media Limited as the exclusive copyright holder,” the corporate stated.

Rai is at present engaged on a follow-up to Raanjhanaa with Dhanush. Titled Tere Ishq Mein, the film additionally stars Kriti Sanon and is ready to be launched in theatres worldwide on November 28.