The Madras High Court granted an interim anti-piracy injunction protecting the copyright of forthcoming Hindi film Mardaani 3 starring Rani Mukerji, with Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy restraining ISPs and cable operators from unauthorised broadcast, stressing pre-release piracy causes irreversible harm.
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court granted an interim anti-piracy injunction to safeguard the copyright of the forthcoming Hindi film Mardaani 3, featuring Rani Mukerji.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy issued an interim order that prohibits the unauthorized broadcast, transmission, or distribution of the film by internet service providers (ISPs) and cable television operators prior to its release in theaters.
The Court emphasized that in cases involving pre-release piracy, the risk of irreversible damage is significant if unauthorized broadcasts are not curtailed at an early stage.
However, the Court also recognized that the broad scope of anti-piracy injunctions might adversely affect the legitimate business interests of intermediaries and service providers. To balance these considerations, the Court stipulated that the injunction would be contingent upon the producer providing indemnity to the respondents for any legitimate business losses that might occur due to the enforcement of this order.
This interim order was issued in response to a suit filed by Yashraj Films, the film’s producer, who raised concerns about the potential illegal broadcasting or online circulation of the film before and after its official release.
Mardaani 3 is the third installment of the Mardaani film series, featuring Rani Mukerji as a police officer, a role she previously portrayed in films released in 2014 and 2019. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala, the film is scheduled for theatrical release on January 30, 2026.
Recently, the Madras High Court also issued an interim order to prevent the unauthorized broadcast or distribution of another Hindi film, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos.
Online piracy has become a significant challenge to intellectual property protection, resulting in substantial financial losses for content creators, broadcasters, and production companies. To address this growing threat, Indian courts have evolved the mechanism of anti-piracy injunctions, strengthening copyright enforcement in the digital landscape.
An anti-piracy injunction is a judicial directive that restrains unauthorised reproduction, circulation, streaming, or public communication of copyrighted works, including films, television programmes, music, software, and live sporting events. Such injunctions may be issued against identified infringers, unknown entities, as well as intermediaries who enable access to pirated material.
The legal foundation for anti-piracy injunctions in India is drawn from the Copyright Act, 1957, particularly Sections 14, 51, and 55, Order XXXIX of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, governing temporary injunctions; and the Information Technology Act, 2000, which outlines intermediary responsibilities and blocking measures. Courts typically grant this relief upon satisfaction of the essential requirements of a prima facie case, balance of convenience, and the likelihood of irreparable injury.
Mardaani 3 is a Hindi action-crime thriller and the third chapter in the successful Mardaani franchise, backed by Yash Raj Films. The film marks the return of Rani Mukerji as DCP Shivani Shivaji Roy, portraying a resolute and fearless police officer once again. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on 30 January 2026 across India and international markets, followed by an OTT premiere on Netflix from 27 March 2026, after an eight-week cinema run.
The story centres on Shivani Shivaji Roy as she confronts a high-risk investigation involving the disappearance of several girls, leading her into an intense and uncompromising battle against a powerful criminal network. Promising gripping action, emotional intensity, and a stark face-off between justice and evil, the trailer highlights her clash with a formidable female antagonist known as “Amma.”
The cast features Rani Mukerji in the lead role, Mallika Prasad as Amma, Janki Bodiwala in a significant supporting part, and Jisshu Sengupta as Dr. Bikram Roy, Shivani’s husband. The supporting ensemble includes Mikhail Yawalkar, Indraneel Bhattacharya, Jaipreet Singh, Prajesh Kashyap, among others.
During the certification process, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) suggested certain modifications, including replacing the term “bachhi” with “ladki” and revising a slapping scene to align with prevailing content guidelines.
Case Title: Yashraj Films v. BSNL
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