Emami has slapped a legal notice on the makers of Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg saying that they have infringed on copyright and defamed one of the company’s most popular products, Zandu Balm. In the film, actress Malaika Arora Khan dances to a song which goes Munni badnaam hui darling tere liye... main Zandu Balm hui darling tere liye. The company has claimed that the producers have used the brand name without its consent.
Emami said that it has sole copyright of not just the product but also the name ‘Zandu Balm’. The notice sent by Emami’s counsel to Arbaaz Khan Production Pvt Ltd, Malaika Arora Khan (Munni in the movie), Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd and its promoter Dhilin Mehta, and director Abhinav Kashyap said: “My clients are in the business of producing and marketing various ayurvedic and other medicines including a popular product known as Zandu Balm. In the song, the name Zandu Balm has been used continuously at various places. By using the brand name in the song, you have not only violated the copyright of my clients, but you have also made an attempt to defame the reputation of my clients and the product manufactured by them”.
Emami has now asked the producers to either withdraw the song or delete the brand name from it. When asked why the company had sent the legal notice now, though the song has been on air for over a month, Emami Director Harsh Agarwal said: “As of now we cannot say anything on this matter." Agarwal did not make any comment on the damages that Emami has claimed.
Dabangg has been one of the biggest hits in recent times. Its first weekend box office collections of Rs 48 crore broke all records. It overtook the first weekend collections of Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots at Rs 42 crore and Ghajini at Rs 40 crore. Even after the initial euphoria about the film ebbed, the film has continued to stand its ground. Film trade analysts said that the film is doing very well in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and Rajasthan.