2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did ‘Lovely' copy the housefly from 'Eega'? Rajamouli's team sends legal notice to the Malayalam film
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)
The
Mathew Thomas
starrer fantasy film 'Lovely' is facing heat after being accused of copying the iconic housefly character from SS Rajamouli's cult Telugu hit 'Eega' (Makkhi in Hindi).
As reported by On Manorama, the controversy erupted when the production house behind 'Eega', sent a legal notice to Lovely's team, alleging that the housefly in their film is strikingly similar to the one painstakingly created for 'Eega'.
A fly too familiar?
The legal notice, which was sent by Neo Juris LLP on June 17, claims that the 'Lovely' team used the housefly character without permission, violating copyright.
According to them, the fly in 'Eega' wasn't just any digital bug — it was carefully crafted using advanced VFX, macro photography, and detailed studies of how real flies look and behave. The filmmakers of 'Eaga' believe that Lovely's fly borrows heavily from that design, right down to its appearance and movements.
What are the makers saying?
So far, the Lovely team hasn't issued a public response. But if the allegations are proven, the film could face serious consequences. Talking to the media, the 'Lovely' director claimed that the team has enough proof regarding the creation of the fly in the Mathew Thomas starrer. He also expressed his disappointment when 'Eega' production house claimed that the animated character's idea was stolen, while months were spent to create it.
Actor Unnimaya Prasad's face was used to motion capture the housefly in 'Lovely', as per the director, who also said that the fly in his film is female, which contradicts the gender of the fly in the Nani starrer.
Lovely - Official Teaser
Streaming starts, controversy follows
Interestingly, 'Lovely' began streaming on OTT on June 20, just days after the legal notice was issued. While the movie has been getting attention on OTT, this legal twist could complicate things. Reportedly, the notice asks the makers to immediately stop using or showing the character, whether it's in the film, posters, trailers, or any platform, including digital, theatrical, satellite, or DVD formats.
