Premante piracy case: TGCSB traces illegal camcording to Chennai theatre
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has registered a case regarding the unauthorized camcording of the Telugu feature film “Premante (Thrillu Prapttirastu)” and its subsequent distribution on piracy websites. A forensic report traced the origin of the pirated copy to a movie theatre in Chennai.
A representative from the Anti-Video Piracy Cell from the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce reported the incident on September 10, 2026. The complaint says the movie was secretly filmed in Luxe Phoenix Market City, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on November 21, 2025, between 5:15 and 7:15 PM UTC. The copied movie was then shared on illegal websites 5movierulz and 1tamilmv.
The complaint includes a report from Qube Cinema Technologies, dated December 3, 2025. This report identified where and how the illegal recording happened.
Betting apps under scanner
The complaint also talked about bigger problems with online piracy in the movie business. It says illegal movie websites promote online betting apps using ads and pop-ups. The complaint claims these ads try to attract people, including kids and teens, to gambling, which can cause money problems and other harm. The movie industry is losing a lot of money because of this.
The Anti-Video Piracy Cell requested an investigation into the illegal camcording at the Chennai theatre, identification of the individuals involved in the unauthorized recording, as well as those responsible for the illegal distribution and circulation of the pirated copy, and appropriate legal action against those responsible.
After getting the complaint, the TGCSB in Hyderabad registered a case under several Indian laws, including the Information Technology Act, Copyright Act, Cinematograph Act, Telangana State Gaming Act, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation is still going on.
