'Tweaked It A Bit': Vela Ramamoorthy Says Makers Of Captain Miller Copied His Novel's Storyline

The recently released Dhanush-starrer Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran, has found itself entangled in controversy just days after its January 12 release. Vela Ramamoorthy, an author and actor, has raised allegations of plagiarism against the film, claiming that its storyline closely mirrors his novel Pattathu Yaanai. The controversy surfaced when Ramamoorthy spoke about it in an interview with a local news channel.

According to Ramamoorthy, his novel revolves around the tale of an individual who joins the British Army and later leaves to participate in the freedom struggle. He asserts that he had registered this specific storyline with the South Indian Film Writers’ Association. However, he alleges that the creators of Captain Miller made slight modifications to his narrative without seeking his permission. Expressing his disappointment as a creator, Ramamoorthy mentioned that while plagiarism is unfortunately not uncommon in the industry, it pains him to see his work allegedly used without acknowledgement.

Vela Ramamoorthy, recognised for his acting prowess in films like Etharkkum Thunindhavan and Enai Noki Paayum Thota, conveyed his sense of disappointment at the lack of a request for permission from the makers of Captain Miller.

Meanwhile, Captain Miller has garnered attention for its performance at the box office. According to Box Office tracker Sacnilk, the film achieved an estimated India net collection of Rs 43.56 crore within its first 10 days. The movie features an ensemble cast, including Nassar, Shivarajkumar, Edward Sonnenblick, and Priyanka Arulmohan. Critics have lauded the film for its compelling storyline and remarkable performances.

Director Arun Matheswaran, despite the success of Captain Miller, has faced challenges due to the need to make alterations to secure an A certificate for the film. In an interview, Arun disclosed that he had to trim four minutes from a crucial action sequence. However, undeterred by the rating constraints, he revealed ambitious plans for a trilogy based on the Captain Miller concept in an interview with Ananda Vikatan.

The controversy surrounding the plagiarism allegations adds a layer of complexity to the film’s narrative, bringing attention to the ethical considerations of intellectual property in the filmmaking industry.