News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh/24th April 2024
In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India rendered a verdict on Monday, overturning an order issued by the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) in a case involving Yash Raj Films. The apex court allowed an appeal filed by the production company, setting aside the NCDRC’s directive to pay compensation to a consumer aggrieved by the exclusion of a song from the Bollywood movie “Fan”. The bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Aravind Kumar delivered the judgment.
The bench stated that they have allowed the appeal.The Supreme Court’s decision was delivered in response to an appeal lodged by Yash Raj Films Pvt Ltd, challenging the NCDRC’s ruling that upheld the State Commission’s directive from 2017. The State Commission had ordered the production company to compensate the complainant, Afreen Fatima Zaidi, with Rs 10,000, along with litigation costs amounting to Rs 5,000.
The genesis of the legal dispute lay in Zaidi’s grievance regarding the absence of a song, “Jabra Fan”, in the movie “Fan”, which starred Shah Rukh Khan. Zaidi asserted that she and her children had decided to watch the film after viewing its promotional material, including the song “Jabra Fan”. However, upon watching the movie in the cinema hall, she discovered that the song was conspicuously missing. Feeling deceived by the discrepancy between the promotional material and the actual film, Zaidi filed a consumer complaint with the district forum.
The district forum initially dismissed Zaidi’s complaint, prompting her to escalate the matter to the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Maharashtra. The production company, Yash Raj Films, vehemently contested Zaidi’s claims, arguing that she could not be categorized as a consumer in this context. Furthermore, Yash Raj Films contended that the promotional trailer featuring the song “Jabra Fan” had been broadcasted on television channels and disclosed to the public through press interviews that the song would not be included in the movie.
The Supreme Court’s ruling represents a pivotal moment in the legal battle between Yash Raj Films and Afreen Fatima Zaidi, marking a decisive resolution to the contentious issue surrounding the exclusion of the song “Jabra Fan” from the movie “Fan”. By overturning the NCDRC’s order and allowing the appeal filed by Yash Raj Films, the apex court has affirmed the production company’s position and relieved it of the obligation to pay compensation to the aggrieved consumer.
The implications of the Supreme Court’s decision extend beyond the immediate case, shedding light on broader legal principles governing consumer rights and the interpretation of contractual agreements in the entertainment industry. The verdict underscores the importance of transparency and accuracy in promotional activities undertaken by film production companies, emphasizing the need to align marketing materials with the actual content of the films.
Moreover, the ruling reaffirms the judiciary’s role in adjudicating disputes arising from consumer transactions, ensuring fairness and equity in commercial dealings. By scrutinizing the facts of the case and weighing the arguments presented by both parties, the Supreme Court has upheld the principles of justice and equity, thereby safeguarding the interests of both consumers and producers in the film industry.
The Supreme Court’s verdict sets a precedent for future cases involving similar disputes, providing clarity on the rights and obligations of consumers and producers in the realm of entertainment. Moving forward, stakeholders in the film industry must adhere to ethical standards and legal norms, fostering trust and accountability in their interactions with consumers.
