Author of book “The Emergency” threatens to sue Manikarnika Films, Netflix for alleged “breach of contract” and “damage to reputation”

Senior journalist Coomi Kapoor sues Manikarnika Films and Netflix for breach of contract and damaging reputation with "Emergency" film.

Coomi Kapoor, a senior woman journalist and author of the book “The Emergency”, is suing Manikarnika Films Private Limited and Netflix for alleged “blatant breach of contract” and for allegedly “damaging her reputation and that of her book” by the Kangana Ranaut-starrer “Emergency” being shown on Netflix, said a press note on Monday (April 21, 2025).

Manikarnika Films could not be reached for comment. Netflix has promised to respond and the response is awaited. As per an industry representative, however, Emergency is a licensed title for Netflix and Ms. Kapoor’s contract for the film is not with Netflix.

“Even after two legal notices, the wording “based on Coomi Kapoor’s book ‘The Emergency’” has not been removed from the Netflix platform. The damage to her reputation as a journalist and author is irretrievable,” alleged the note.

“She signed a tripartite contract with Manikarnika Films, Penguin, and herself. However, on her lawyer’s advice she included two clauses that while the producers would of course have full artistic license in making the film, nothing should be modified that was not in consonance with historical facts on the subject which are in the public domain. The contract also stipulated that the author’s name and book should not be used for promoting or exploiting the film without the prior approval of the author in writing...,” it alleged.

“...when the film appeared on the Netflix platform, she discovered to her horror that in large type at the bottom it was claimed the film was based on her book and she saw the film for the first time and discovered it was a total distortion of the contents of her book,” the note alleged.