In a major interim ruling on May 9, 2025, the Bombay High Court granted ad-interim relief to PVR Inox Ltd., restraining Maddock Films from releasing its upcoming movie Bhool Chuk Maaf on any platform—including OTT—until the expiry of an 8-week holdback period following its theatrical release.
The court order followed a last-minute decision by Maddock Films to cancel the film’s theatrical debut and opt for a direct-to-OTT release on May 16 via Amazon Prime Video. Citing national security concerns, Maddock argued that the holdback clause only applied in the case of a theatrical release.
However, PVR Inox successfully contended that this move violated a binding agreement signed on May 6, 2025, mandating a theatrical-first release with an 8-week exclusivity window before any digital premiere.
Bhool Chuk Maaf: Theatrical Rights vs. OTT Strategy
PVR Inox, represented by Senior Counsel Mr. Dinyar Madon, stated that the decision was purely commercial and not justified by any official notifications. The court noted that Maddock Films had failed to provide any government directive to support their claim, while all PVR theatres in New Delhi—where the release was scheduled—were fully operational and had recorded strong advance bookings.
Justice Arif S. Doctor observed that the producers’ of Bhool Chuk Maaf change of plan stemmed from a shift in business outlook rather than genuine security threats. The judge emphasised that a party cannot walk away from contractual obligations simply due to commercial inconvenience, particularly when no force majeure clause was included in the agreement.
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Immediate Impact
As a result, Bhool Chuk Maaf cannot be released on OTT or any digital platform until eight weeks after a theatrical release, which has yet to occur. The matter is listed for the next hearing on June 16, 2025.
This verdict is a landmark win for theatrical distributors and reaffirms the legal standing of exhibition agreements in the evolving landscape of Indian film distribution.
