Just days before the release of Coolie, starring superstar Rajinikanth, the Madras High Court delivered a sharp legal blow to piracy, ordering 36 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across India to block any rogue websites that illegally stream the film. The injunction, delivered on August 11, applies to current websites and those that may emerge in the future. Internet companies named include telecom giants like BSNL, Airtel, MTNL, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance Communications, as well as channels like Hathway and Tikona.
The court’s decision followed a successful submission by Sun TV Network Limited, the producer of Coolie, which confirmed its legal rights over the film via Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) documentation. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy emphasised that unauthorised streaming ahead of the movie’s scheduled August 14 premiere would cause “irreparable injury” to the producers and cast .
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The injunction mirrors efforts seen during earlier high-profile releases, where film companies and courts cracked down on piracy with wide-ranging ISP directives. Streaming platforms and download sites have become increasingly agile—creating mirror domains and spoofed URLs to undermine anti-piracy efforts. By ordering ISPs to preemptively block access, the court aims to close such loopholes before leakages occur.
Importantly, the order extends not only to existing websites but also to “future websites” that may host or stream pirated versions. The injunction also targets five cable operators in Chennai, notably Action Lane, JAK Communications, C32 Cable Net, Thamizhaga Cable TV, and Thiru Nagar Satellite Vision, ensuring ground-level enforcement.