Tovino Thomas' ARM, also known as Ajayante Randam Moshanam, is not only making waves at the box office, having recently grossed INR 100 crore, but is also making headlines for combating movie piracy. Following a complaint from ARM’s producers, Kochi police arrested two members of Tamilrockers, a notorious group known for pirating movies, whether theatrical or digital, in Bengaluru. The arrests came after the group recorded Rajinikanth's recent blockbuster, Vettaiyan. Unfortunately, Vettaiyan full movie has already been leaked online on torrent sites and platforms like Telegram for free download. ‘Vettaiyan’ Full Movie Leaked on Tamilrockers, Movierulz & Telegram Channels for Free Download & Watch Online; Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan and Fahadh Faasil’s Film Is the Latest Victim of Piracy?

The arrested Tamilrockers members, Kumaresan (aged 29) and Praveen Kumar (aged 31), were both IT professionals. Proceedings for the arrest began after ARM producer Listin Stephen and director Jithin Laal filed a complaint with the Kochi Cyber Police when a clip went viral of someone watching a pirated copy of ARM on a train.

The arrests also shed light on how the pirates discreetly record films in theatres, as revealed during initial investigations.

Modus Operandi of Tamilrockers Pirates in Recording and Uploading Movies Online for Free Download

According to the investigation, the Tamilrockers members would purchase high-priced theatre tickets, typically for recliner seats, and choose those in the middle of the row to record the film. Their accomplices would book the surrounding seats, up to five in either direction, to avoid suspicion from theatre staff or complaints from other patrons about their behaviour. This operation is usually carried out on the very day of the movie’s release. The recliner seats allow the pirates to record the movies at an optimal angle, and they use blankets to cover the recording equipment.

Trailer of Sony LIV Show 'Tamilrockers' That Exposed The Piracy Group's Workings

Reports suggest that, in the case of Malayalam films, pirates often record movies in theatres outside Kerala, as Kerala's Cyber Police are highly vigilant in enforcing anti-piracy measures. For example, it was revealed that the arrested Tamilrockers members had recorded ARM in a Coimbatore theatre. Theatres in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are frequently chosen to record films on their release day, according to a report by Asianet Newsable. However, there is no confirmation of theatre owners being involved in the scam, and no such exposure has been made yet. However, it has to be asked as to how the pirates managed to get into these theatres despite the security checks near the entrance. ‘Vettaiyan’ Movie Review: A Rajinikanth Spectacle With Intermittent Sparks That’s Weighed Down by a Feeble Screenplay.

Once recorded, the films are uploaded to platforms like Telegram and websites such as Movierulz and 1tamilmv. Each upload can fetch a price of INR 1 lakh or more. The pirates arrested for recording ARM and Vettaiyan were reported to be earning INR 44,000 per month and had uploaded more than 30 films across various platforms.

Movie piracy is a serious crime, and eradicating it will require countries to impose stringent anti-piracy measures that not only discourage uploading but also deter downloading. The Indian film industry reportedly loses INR 20,000 crore every year due to piracy. Under the amended Cinematograph Act of 2023, individuals convicted of illegally uploading and distributing pirated movies face a minimum punishment of three months imprisonment and a fine of INR 3 lakh, which can extend to three years imprisonment and a fine of up to 5% of the film's audited gross production cost.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 13, 2024 03:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).