Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Last week, segments of actor-politician Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, including its opening and climax, surfaced online. The leak escalated into a full high-definition version circulating across piracy platforms and private links, even as the film is still awaiting certification clearance and a release date.
In the days that followed, the fallout only deepened. Over 300 pirated links were taken down, the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing arrested six individuals, and yet, the film continued to travel – shockingly, even making its way onto a local cable network in Tamil Nadu before its official release.
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As blame ricocheted between institutions: the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) denied involvement, editors’ associations issued clarifications, and investigations widened, the incident exposed a familiar but uncomfortable truth – In today’s film economy, a leak is not just a breach, it’s a business disruption.
Amid all this, India Today spoke to experts in the entertainment industry to understand what’s at stake when a film is leaked.
‘Hard work goes for a toss’: Industry on piracy’s impact
Summing up the emotional and economic blow such incidents carry, trade analyst and producer Girish Johar said, “It is very depressing. The complete hard work of thousands of people who work on a film just goes out for a toss by certain miscreants, which is not acceptable.”
He added, “I really feel that stringent action should be taken, not because it was probably Vijay‘s last film. Be it any actor or film, you don’t want to lose out just because there are certain people who play around with these kinds of menaces.”
Beyond sentiment, the numbers are also staggering. According to The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) India’s latest reports, India loses over Rs 22,000 crore annually to piracy, including films and digital content, a loss that extends far beyond ticket sales.
And this not only causes a dent in box office earnings but also other revenues, including advertising and subscription revenues, which are big-time monies.
But while outrage is immediate and constant, solutions remain slow and fragmented. Johar added, “Yes, the industry does fight this menace. But more concrete steps need to be taken. Because at the end of the day, there is a certain loss of revenue on the part of the government also via taxes and box office.”
Where leaks happen and how studios try to plug the gaps
Interestingly, while the Jana Nayagan leak has triggered speculation, from insider breaches to certification-stage vulnerabilities, those within the system point to multiple potential weak links rather than a single point of failure.
Explaining the many leakage points, Girish Johar shared that while the lab where it’s processed becomes a highly volatile point before release, shooting with camcorders in theatres is what leads to maximum piracy.
He said, “That is a difficult aspect to control, because many people are involved. It has to go to the cinema level, that obviously needs to be stricter at ground level. But we need to be stringent with what we can control – while shooting, post-production or even before the release.”
Which is where studios come in, quietly tightening the backend in ways audiences rarely see. Vishal Banjaria, business head, Nube Studios Mumbai, outlined how the industry is attempting to plug these invisible gaps.
He shared how, as an organisation, they follow strict protocols to ensure the safety of project files. Emphasising that leaks are often less about a single lapse and more about systemic vulnerability, he added, “We are a TPN-certified (Trusted Partner Network) studio and maintain high standards of data security. Each project is assigned a dedicated professional team to ensure proper handling and monitoring at every stage.”
The approach is layered – legal, technical, and operational. All individuals working on a project are required to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), and access to sensitive data and footage is limited only to authorised personnel. These measures help them to maintain strong control over data and significantly reduce the risk of leaks.
And yet, even the most secure pipelines can’t fully eliminate risk, especially once content begins moving across multiple stakeholders. Which is why, Banjaria stressed, the consequences of a leak ripple far beyond the obvious.
“Film leaks are a serious issue for the film and entertainment industry. When a film is leaked online before or soon after its release, many people watch it for free instead of going to theatres or official platforms. This directly results in a major financial loss and impacts the film’s success. It undermines the hard work and efforts of the entire team involved in the project,” he said.
Who’s responsible and why piracy still thrives
Recently, the Southern India Film Editors Association had also addressed the controversy, stating that the group never mentioned a “specific post-production” facility as several individuals – and agencies – were involved in the film.
In a statement shared on X, Gopikrishna, President, Southern India Film Editors Association, wrote, “Southern India film editors association is strongly clarifying that no specific post facilities have been mentioned in our press meet regarding the leak. Numerous persons and facilities were involved and investigations are ongoing to find the culprits. So, please do not believe baseless rumours (sic).”
Amusingly, the most perplexing part of piracy is not how it happens but why it continues to thrive, even in an era of premium viewing experiences. Content has become accessible, and audiences are enjoying watching HD content.
So why do they still download a pirated version?
“I think they need to be educated more because if they truly love their stars, you would not want to watch a lower-res version or even a pirated version. I wouldn’t settle for anything less. You shouldn’t betray your own star whom you love so much,” Johar concluded.
Even after this, there is no clarity on the release of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan.
– Ends
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
