Police have launched an investigation into the leak of a pirated version of the Tovino Thomas-starrer Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM) on Telegram channels. The Kochi Cyber Police registered the case after the film's director Jithin Laal filed a complaint late Wednesday night, having previously raised awareness about the piracy issue on social media.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the unauthorised copy was recorded in an unidentified cinema and began circulating on Telegram at around 11:50 am on September 13. The case is being pursued under several sections of the Copyright Act.
Authorities are currently analysing the pirated version to identify the theatre where it was filmed. Jithin recently shared a video showing a train passenger watching the pirated version of his film on a mobile device, expressing his distress over the situation. "I have nothing more to say. Those who chose to watch ARM on Telegram can do so," he posted on his social media handle.
Producer Listin Stephen also expressed his concerns about the film's piracy. "This is the situation of a film about to enter the Rs 50 crore club," he noted. Listin also highlighted that piracy undermines the hard work behind the film, which involved 150 days of shooting, significant post-production efforts, and the dedication of over 100 people. "Piracy is wreaking havoc on the Malayalam film industry," he concluded.
ARM, released on September 12 for Onam, opened to generally positive reviews from both critics and common audiences.
