The highly anticipated sequel to the South Indian blockbuster Pushpa, titled Pushpa-2: The Rule, was leaked online in HD quality mere hours after its theatrical release on Thursday, December 5. According to reports, the film has surfaced on multiple piracy websites, including iBomma, Movierulz, 9xMovies, Filmyzilla, TamilYogi, Bolly4u, and JioRockers, among others.
Indian media outlet India Today confirmed that the film has been pirated on torrent sites and several other platforms, following a pattern observed with previous releases like Laal Singh Chaddha and Liger. The report notes that even films released on OTT platforms have increasingly fallen prey to piracy. This illegal distribution often results in significant financial losses for filmmakers, reducing expected revenues by an estimated 25-30%.
The Indian government has taken stringent measures against piracy. The 1952 Cinematography Act was amended in 2013 to include stricter regulations against film piracy. As per these laws, individuals found guilty of piracy face a fine of ₹300,000 and an additional penalty amounting to 5% of the film’s total production cost. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) enforces these provisions.
Despite the setback, Pushpa-2, directed by Sukumar, is predicted to shatter box office records. On its opening day, the film grossed ₹21.08 crore in India by 8:00 a.m. alone. The advance ticket booking for the film garnered an overwhelming response, with over 55,000 tickets sold within the first 10 hours.
The piracy incident has once again highlighted the persistent challenges faced by India’s film industry in safeguarding intellectual property rights amidst soaring global demand for South Indian cinema.
