HC stays use of Lawaris song in Housefull

CommentThe Calcutta High Court restrained the use of the 1981 hit song Apne to jayse tayse from Amitabh Bachchan [ Images ] starrer Lawaris in the Sajid Khan [ Images ] directed Housefull, which premiered on Friday.

In an interim stay till June 2, Justice Nadira Patherya on Friday restrained producer Sajid Nadiadwala from the cinematic use of the Kalyanji-Anandji number in the new film, where it has been remixed with another song Dhanno.

Anandji and the heirs of music directors Kalyanji had filed a suit before the High Court claiming that the producers of Housefull had used the song Apne to jayse tayse, thodi aise ya oyse without the copyright.

Heirs of Prakash Mehra [ Images ], producer of Lawaris, also filed a separate suit before the court claiming that the song was written by the late Mehra and the right to the lyrics remained with them.

After hearing the two songs, which had similarities prima facie, Justice Patherya ordered the injunction restraining the defendants from using the number till June 2.

Justice Patherya directed the parties to file affidavits in two weeks and the matter would be heard again after three weeks.

The counsel for Nadiadwala sought a stay of the order of injunction so that he could appeal before a larger bench, but the judge turned down the plea.

Nadiadwala's counsel had earlier stated that they had bought the rights from music company Saregama India Ltd [ Get Quote ], which claimed to have the rights to the songs of the 1981 film.

Lawaris was a blockbuster and the song, sung by Kishore Kumar [ Images ], continues to be popular 29-years after the film's release.

Monkeying around is a no - no for Akki

What do you expect when Akshay Kumar is in da house? Fun? Witty one - liners? But the star was not his usual chirpy self as he came to the Capital on Tuesday with the star cast - minus Lara Dutta - of the comedy film, Housefull.
To start with, Akshay scolded a young journalist when he asked him about a funny sequence with a monkey in Housefull. Akki took off, saying, "It's just a film, it has got nothing to do reality. Sajid (Khan) has just written a funny scene." That's not all. Akshay was terse in his reply to a question about his fat pay cheque. "Now, I have started producing my own films. So, there's no question of any fee cut now."

One wonders whether this lack of cheer is the effect of the six back-to-back flops that the actor churned out last year. But at least the wry one-liners were in place. "I did 8/10 Tasveer, but I didn't even get 4/2," he said.

Sajid, on his part claimed that the film would be the biggest blockbuster of 2010. "My film has already got 90-95 per cent advance booking in single screen halls. Plus, its songs are highest selling music as ring tones," said Sajid, who also added that the film was going to be "career-defining" for most of the cast members.

The Housefull ladies - Deepika Padukone and Jiah Khan - were largely quiet as the male cast members did most of the talking. Jiah, in her heavy accent, asserted that Deepika was absolutely gorgeous - and that there were no catfights on the sets. Lara meanwhile was absent due to a severe back ache.

Riteish Deshmukh and Arjun Rampal were on a mutual admiration spree. Riteish claimed that Arjun plays the toughest part because the comedy is happening around him; the National Award winner on his part said that life was easier with such talented co-stars around.

Sajid also announced that he has used antipiracy software, Republique, to ensure there are no illegal downloads of the film. "If anyone tries downloading it, not only will the files get corrupted but their IP address will pop up and they will be prosecuted," he said. Whether the film will be downloaded at all, remains to be seen.

'The highlight of Housefull is not the bikini'

Her decision to don a bikini in Housefull has won her legions of fans but Deepika Padukone says she is taken aback by the attention the short sequence is receiving.

The leggy beauty will be seen strutting her stuff on an Italian beach with her co-stars Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan, Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh in Housefull, but she says there is more to the film than just bikinis.

"When you are shooting on a beach in Italy, you have to look sexy. However, the highlight of the film is not the bikini here. I remember people making a big deal about Priyanka (Chopra) wearing a swimsuit in Dostana but we know that the film was a lot more than that," Deepika told PTI.

The actress, who has paired up once again with Akshay a year after the Chandni Chowk To China debacle, has no qualms about wearing a bikini, if the script demands so.

'"All the advertising is fine as long as everyone related to the film is aware about the real intent. On the same lines in Housefull too, we girls appear in bikinis for a while but the film moves on. The focus is not skin show. But then when some people think so, it takes away the credibility of the director," said Padukone.

Bollywood's most awaited multistarrers in 2010

It's been an interesting start to 2010. Already we have two young filmmakers setting the bar way, way high with films like Ishqiya and Love Sex Aur Dhokha, and Karan Johar's shown he's in box office form as well with Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name Is Khan.

Still, the year hasn't yet shown its big releases, the ones that rely on several names to draw in the crowds, the ones with the big posters.

Ladies and gents, here are the multistarrers to expect in 2010:

Housefull

Sajid Khan's optimistically titled release stars Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Jiah Khan, Lara Dutta, Arjun Rampal and Ritesh Deshmukh, with Malaika Arora and Jacqueline Fernandes.

The Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy soundtrack is already making waves. We haven't heard which Hollywood blockbuster this one's 'inspired by' just yet, but its heartening to see Sajid sticking to conventional spelling this time around.


Image: A scene from Housefull

'I've actually gotten bored of comedy and action'

Despite a number of flops, Akshay Kumar is still very much in demand. The actor, who is in London to shoot for his latest movie, a romantic comedy called Housefull starring Deepika Padukone and Arjun Rampal, spoke to Myleene Klassis on CNN's The Screening Room Xtra about his films, why he's the producers' favourite and what he has in common with Sylvester Stallone.

Here's the full transcript from The Screening Room Xtra (Myleene Klass -- MK, Akshay Kumar -- AK):

MK -- Akshay you are here in London making a new film Housefull. How has your experience in London? I hear you had some problems with the lead actress Deepika Padukone coming down with malaria.

AK -- Oh that happened just for four or five days, it was okay after that. We had a lot of work to do so we went to plan B. We couldn't go to plan A. So yes that was there but then it was okay. She was released so it was fine...

We're on schedule, we're actually two days earlier now. And the weather has been supporting us a lot.

MK -- Are you enjoying your stay in London?

AK -- I must tell you I've made three films here before and they've all been quite successful so it's been quite a lucky place. And now there's a 4th one.

Catch The Screening Room Xtra on CNN on September 3 at 2.15pm, September 4 at 8.45am, September 5 at 2.15pm, 10.45pm, September 6 at 8.15pm and September 7 at 8.15am.