Tumbbad: Director Vs Producer Rift Rumours Intensify, Rahi Pens Strong Note On IP Right Protection

Sohum Shah starring Tumbbad re-released in the theatres on September 13, after first hitting cinemas in 2018. This time, the film minted ₹1.5 crore at the box office in India. Following the positive response, the maker has announced a sequel of horror fantasy. However, there have been rumours of a tiff between the filmmaker Rahi Anil Barve and the production team regarding Tumbbad 2. amid which the director stated that he would not be associated with the sequel. Director Rahi Anil Barve has now issued a warning, stating that the producer treats intellectual property rights as a “joke”, which has added to the speculations.

Tumbbad director Rahi Anil Barve hinted at being scammed by producers amid rumours

Amid the ongoing buzz, Tumbbad director Rahi Anil Barve took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a cryptic post for aspiring directors. He warned them about imbalanced legal contracts that could exclude them from their own intellectual property (IP). This also hints at the reason for his departure from the sequel of his own making.

He wrote, “Be cautious when making your first film. In Bollywood, intellectual property rights (IPR) and first-timer’s fees are often treated as a joke in studios’ legal contracts.” Many struggling artists, eager to launch their projects, fail to recognise the seriousness of this issue. Some even cannot afford a basic lawyer to help them understand the terms,” he stated.

‘We are exploited:’ Rahi Anil Barve expresses concern

Rahi Anil Barve further highlighted that many creators and artists he has recently collaborated with have faced similar challenges, leading to considerable losses. He wrote, “While we face exploitation for a minimal gain in the short term, the long-term consequences often result in losses we cannot afford. Please safeguard your intellectual property rights before entering into any contracts in the future.”

The cult horror film, which received an enthusiastic response during its re-release last month, was originally conceived by Rahi in the 1990s and took 15 years to complete. His note arises amidst rumours of a rift with Tumbbad producer and actor Sohum Shah, following Rahi's announcement that he will not participate in Tumbbad 2. Instead, Rahi is focusing on spiritual sequels, Pahadpangira and Pakshitirtha. 

In an interview with a digital portal on Tuesday, Shah addressed rumours of a fallout with Barve. "There are no issues at all. We have been trying to make 'Tumbbad 2' for the longest time. We were not able to crack the script in the writing stage," he said.