Travel alerts straight to your inbox:

Movie Travel: Harry Potter Rip-off in India OK

September 23, 2008 at 11:00 AM | 1 Comment

This just in: If you want to make a knock off of the most successful children's book-and-movie series of all time, go for it. At least, that is, if you're in India.

The Bollywood film "Hari Puttar" is now making its way to movie theaters throughout India. A court in New Delhi rejected a suit filed by US-based Warner Bros., which owns the rights to the Harry Potter franchise, stating that the resemblance between "Hari" and "Harry" is too minimal.

The Indian film features a boy who moves to England and foils an evil plot to destroy the world. In the movie's defense, he does so without access to magical powers: There's no wizard school, no evil spirits, not even a forehead scar! Still, the title's similarity is unmistakable.

Mirchi Movies, which made the Bollywood film, argued that Hari is a popular Indian name and that Puttar means "son" in Hindi and Punjabi.

Sounds like we're now free to put our finishing touches on our rags-to-riches rom-com script, "Harriett and the Potter," cash our fat checks and drop this travel writing thing.

Related Stories:
· Delhi Court Dismisses Hari Puttar Lawsuit [BBC]
· India Travel coverage [Jaunted]

1 Comment

  1. rdmcgeorge

    Jaunted Member
    September 23, 2008 at 11:13 AM




    Bollywood ran into the same problem with ...

    When Hari Met Sonal, What's Eating Gandhik Grape, and Chirag and the Chocolate Factory.

Leave a Comment

Not yet a member? Click here to become a member.
Already a member? Login below:

Nickname:

Password:

Send us a tip