Coomi Kapoor, a renowned journalist and author of The Emergency, has threatened legal action against Manikarnika Films Private Limited and Netflix for what she claims is a “blatant breach of contract” and a significant damage to her reputation. Kapoor’s accusations stem from the recent streaming of the Kangana Ranaut-starrer Emergency on Netflix, which she alleges misused her work without proper authorization.
In a press release issued on Monday, Kapoor stated that she was forced to pursue legal recourse after discovering that her name was prominently featured in the marketing of the film without her written consent. The author emphasized that the inclusion of her book in the film’s promotional materials was done in violation of the terms she had set forth in her contract with the film’s producers.
Kapoor’s Tripartite Contract and Legal Disputes
Kapoor had previously signed a tripartite agreement with Manikarnika Films, Penguin Random House, and herself to allow certain aspects of her book to be adapted. The agreement, she explained, granted the film’s producers full artistic freedom, but with the stipulation that nothing in the adaptation would deviate from established historical facts.
However, Kapoor’s allegations highlight that the final product diverged significantly from her work. Specifically, the film came under fire for its portrayal of the controversial Sikh separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as allegedly collaborating with Indira Gandhi, a depiction that has already sparked protests from Sikh groups.
Misrepresentation of ‘The Emergency’
The controversy intensified when Emergency was released on Netflix, where the film was marketed as being “based on Coomi Kapoor’s book The Emergency.” Kapoor claims that she only became aware of the film’s final content after watching it herself, describing the adaptation as a “total distortion” of her original material.
Despite sending two formal legal notices, Kapoor’s concerns have yet to be addressed. The phrase “based on Coomi Kapoor’s book The Emergency” remains on the Netflix platform, a fact that Kapoor argues has caused her irreparable harm both professionally and personally.
No Response from Manikarnika Films
Kapoor also recounted her efforts to address the issue directly with Aksht Ranaut, a representative of Manikarnika Films. According to Kapoor, her concerns were ignored, and she was told that the filmmakers were only using one chapter of her book for the adaptation.
“I gave them permission to use my work, and that was my mistake,” Kapoor stated in an interview with The Telegraph. “They assured me it would only be based on a single chapter. Instead, the entire book was used, and the movie distorts the facts. If you want to make a film on Indira Gandhi, that’s fine, but don’t use my book and misrepresent the facts.”
Legal Action Imminent
Kapoor’s decision to pursue legal action appears imminent, as she has made it clear that she will not tolerate any further misuse of her work. The author has yet to specify the exact legal claims she intends to pursue, but she has expressed that she feels compelled to protect her reputation as both a journalist and an author from what she describes as a damaging misrepresentation of her work.
The film’s producers, as well as Netflix, have not yet issued a public response to Kapoor’s allegations.
This developing story has raised important questions about the ethical and legal boundaries of book-to-film adaptations, especially when historical events are involved.
