Gram Chikitsalay: Filmmaker Alleges Script Theft by Vinay Pathak
A copyright controversy brews as Kolkata filmmaker Anindya Bikas Datta accuses Prime Video’s upcoming series Gram Chikitsalay of plagiarising his registered screenplay Quack Shankar, originally shared with actor Vinay Pathak in 2021.
It seems the proverbial pot of rural drama is boiling over — and not in the way Prime Video might have hoped. In a rather dramatic turn of events worthy of a script itself, a Bengali filmmaker from Kolkata has accused the creators of Gram Chikitsalay, an upcoming series on Prime Video, of pinching the very soul of his original screenplay — and worse still, casting the very actor he once courted for a key role.
Anindya Bikas Datta, best known for helming the Bengali detective series Kiriti, took to Facebook on Monday with what he claims is evidence of copyright infringement. The alleged victim? His registered screenplay Quack Shankar, penned in December 2020.
Datta stated that in January 2021, he shared the script with well-known actor Vinay Pathak, hoping he’d take on a prominent role. However, Pathak reportedly fancied himself as the lead, whereas Datta and his team were eyeing him for the antagonist’s shoes.
“Talks didn’t exactly go swimmingly,” Datta wrote in a detailed social media post. “We promised him, if he was keen, we’d further build the antagonist’s character around him. But nothing materialised and the project was shelved thereafter.”
Fast forward to April 2024. The trailer for Gram Chikitsalay drops online, and Datta nearly falls off his chair. Not only does the storyline — set in a decrepit Primary Health Centre in the fictional village of Bhatkandi — bear a striking resemblance to Quack Shankar, but lo and behold, Vinay Pathak is starring in the very role he once coveted.
Talk about a twist in the tale.
“The central storyline and the associated characters have been directly lifted,” Datta claimed, alleging that the coincidence was too uncanny to ignore. “And surprise — it’s none other than Mr Pathak essaying the lead role.”
The alleged breach has left Datta’s camp fuming. The director says he’s currently working on the same project with an entirely new cast and crew, under the banner of Kathavachak Films — a venture led by Dream Girl writer Raaj Shaandilyaa and producer Vimal Lahoti. The film has already been announced as part of their 2024 line-up.
“This has dealt a body blow to my project,” Datta lamented. “You spend years crafting a story, protecting it, nurturing it — and then one fine day, it turns up dressed in someone else’s coat on a big streaming platform.”
As for Gram Chikitsalay, the series is written by Vaibhav Suman and Shreya Shrivastava, directed by Rahul Pandey, and created by Deepak Kumar Mishra. The ensemble cast also features Amol Parashar — who plays the earnest Dr Prabhat — along with Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Akash Makhija, and Garima Vikrant Singh. It is scheduled to stream from 9 May on Prime Video.
Whether this row ends in a courtroom or simply in an awkward silence remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain — this isn’t the quiet village drama anyone had bargained for.
What's Your Reaction?
