PremiumDhanush's Captain Miller accused of plagiarism - Writer Vela Ramamurthy alleges ‘story stolen from...’
Captain Miller was written and directed by Arun Matheswaran. Now, actor-writer Vela Ramamurthy has raised plagiarism allegations against the makers of the Dhanush-starrer
Last Updated: 01.34 PM, Jan 22, 2024
Dhanush-starrer Captain Miller, which has been receiving rave reviews from critics and has been doing exceptionally well at the box office, is facing a setback. Tamil writer and actor Vela Ramamurthy recently came forward, claiming that the story of the Arun Matheswaran directorial was ‘stolen’ from his novel Pattathu Yaanai.
He claimed that he had registered the story with the South Indian film Writers’ Association, and it had been allegedly used to film Captain Miller. “I heard that the story of Captain Miller is based on my novel. My novel narrates the story of a man who joins the British Army and later leaves it to participate in the freedom struggle. I had registered this story with the South Indian Film Writers’ Association. But it seems like they tweaked it a little bit and made it as 'Captain Miller'. I am also part of this fraternity. They could have very well asked for my permission and taken it,” the writer alleged. He also emphasised that plagiarism happens quite frequently in the industry and it ‘pains him as a creator’.
Who is Vela Ramamurthy?
Vela Ramamurthy, who has been seen in several Tami films in supporting roles, essayed the role of Muttiah Muralitharan’s father in his biopic 800 (2023). Apart from his acting stint, he has written several short stories and novels. Among his literary works, novel Pattathu Yaanai is now making headlines for being plagiarised by the creators of Captain Miller.
Captain Miller’s ‘alleged storyline’
The Dhanush-starrer period drama is based on a former member of the British Indian Army who turns against the Empire after a life-changing incident. The film, also starring Shiva Rajkumar, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Aditi Balan and Sundeep Kishan, is now running successfully at the theatres.
Also read: Madrasapattinam, Ponniyin Selvan and more - Stream these 6 Tamil period drama films on OTT
Captain Miller’s Day 10 box office collection
Despite accusations, Captain Miller continues to soar high at the box office. The period action film has grossed approximately ₹ 89 crore worldwide, with an occupancy rate of 19.2%. The film is expected to mint more numbers in the coming week, thanks to the Republic Day weekend.