Ustaad Bhagat Singh: Piracy complaint targets illegal uploads of Telugu blockbuster, Sankranti hits on release day
HYDERABAD: A complaint has been submitted alleging that piracy websites illegally uploaded the Telugu film “Ustaad Bhagat Singh” (2026) and several Sankranti 2026 releases, causing financial losses and posing cyber security risks.
According to the complaint dated April 1, 2026, the Anti Video Piracy Cell of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce reported that websites “5movierulz”, “1cinevood” and “1tamilmv” uploaded high-quality pirated prints on the day of theatrical release. The petition, bearing Memo ID No. 113/SC-V/TGCSB/Hyd/2026, stated that the platforms consistently target Telugu films.
The complaint said the websites recently uploaded “Ustaad Bhagat Singh” and earlier pirated Sankranti 2026 releases including “Rajasaab”, “Mana ShankaraVara Prasad”, “Anaganaga Okaraju” and “Nari Nari Naduma Murari”. Forensic reports of the alleged pirated copies were enclosed for technical review.
Cyber fraud, data theft risks flagged
The complainant alleged that the platforms steal film content from servers and theatres and simultaneously collect users’ sensitive data. This data, the complaint claimed, is later used for financial frauds and digital thefts.
It further alleged that the websites promote illegal betting applications through embedded advertisements and pop-ups within movie players. These, the complaint said, lure users, including minors, into gambling and cyber exploitation.
URLs, hosting details listed in petition
The complaint listed specific links allegedly hosting pirated copies. It stated that “1cinevood” uploaded the film on March 19, 2026 at 17.23 IST, while “1tamilmv” and “5movierulz” uploaded versions on the same day at 19.21 IST. The domains were said to use Cloudflare Inc. for DNS hosting, with registrants including Dynadot Privacy Service and Tucows.
The complainant requested authorities to trace the operators, block URLs and mirror sites, investigate links to financial fraud and summon intermediaries including DNS providers and registrars. It said the websites operate in violation of the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The petition stated that “swift action will protect both the creative rights of the cinema industry and the personal safety of citizens of Telangana.”
