Madras High Court Grants Pre-Release Anti-Piracy Injunctions For 'Welcome to the Jungle,' 'Balaramana Dinagalu'

The Madras High Court has granted ad-interim injunctions restraining internet service providers and cable TV operators from infringing the copyright of two films ahead of their theatrical release.

The films are the Kannada movie "Balaramana Dinagalu," starring Vinod Prabhakar and Priya Anand, and the Hindi comedy "Welcome to the Jungle," headlined by Akshay Kumar.

Justice K. Kumaresh Babu passed separate common orders in each case on June 25, 2026, a day before both films were scheduled to hit theatres on June 26, 2026.

The orders were passed in four Original Applications. Two related to "Balaramana Dinagalu" and were filed by Padmavathi Films, while the other two related to "Welcome to the Jungle" and were filed by Base Industries Group.

The applicants sought directions to block websites hosting infringing content, including future websites and their variants. They also sought to restrain unauthorised copying, transmission, communication, uploading, downloading or exhibition of the films through any medium, including CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, VCDs, cable TV, direct-to-home services, internet services, multimedia messaging services, pen drives, hard drives, tapes and satellite conditional access systems.

As proof of ownership, the applicants in both matters relied on CBFC certificates identifying them as producers of the respective films. They also produced promotional material confirming the films' June 26 release date.

The court noted the urgency inherent in such pre-release applications. It observed, "it is likely that irreversible injury will occur, unless unlawful broadcast is prevented."

At the same time, the court was conscious of the broad nature of the relief sought.

It recorded that "in view of the expansive nature of the relief claimed, it is possible that the legitimate business interest of one or more respondents may be affected." The court therefore directed the plaintiffs to furnish an indemnity in this regard.

Subject to this condition, the court granted ad-interim injunctions as prayed for in all four applications. The injunctions will remain in force for four weeks.

A notice was ordered to be issued to the respondents, returnable within four weeks.

The matters have been listed for further hearing after four weeks.