Sayani Gupta’s Directorial Debut ‘Aasmani’ Cleared of Copyright Infringement Allegations
Actor-filmmaker Sayani Gupta’s directorial debut short film, Aasmani, has been cleared of copyright infringement allegations by the Screenwriters Association’s (SWA) Dispute Settlement Committee (DSC). The complaint was originally filed against Gupta and editor Paramita Ghosh, alleging that Aasmani shared unauthorized similarities with Prabha, an unfinished documentary.
Following a thorough evaluation of submissions from both parties and independent expert comparisons, the DSC concluded that the two projects merely shared a broad underlying concept. The committee emphasized that the narrative structure, character development, emotional conflicts, and overall story arcs were fundamentally distinct. The DSC reiterated established copyright law, which protects the specific expression of an idea rather than the abstract idea itself. It also highlighted that the complainant’s work was a documentary based on the well-known public life of a real individual.
Additionally, the committee referenced an ongoing civil defamation lawsuit filed by Gupta against the complainant, in which the court had passed a favorable order for the director. Because key issues in the defamation proceedings overlap with the SWA complaint, the matter remains sub judice. Consequently, the DSC officially concluded and closed the case without prejudice to the legal rights of either party.
The resolution comes as Aasmani continues to earn critical acclaim across the international film festival circuit, where the dispute first arose. Relieved by the verdict, Sayani Gupta expressed her deep gratitude for the committee’s decision, reflecting on the challenging experience.
“As I had said earlier, truth will always prevail,” Gupta shared in a statement. “I respected the formal process, and I am grateful that the truth has finally come out. This has been the most harrowing experience of my life. But as my grandmother would often quote Tagore: ‘tomar potaka jaare dao, bohibare dao shokoti’—whoever you give your flag to bear, you also give them the strength to bear it.”
With the SWA proceedings officially closed, the film moves forward cleanly on its global festival journey.
