'Script of The Interpreter is mine'
By: Kasmin Fernandes
July 25, 2005
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Ujjwal Thengdi, a Mumbai-based director and writer, said that the story of The Interpreter ” a Sean Penn-Nicole Kidman starrer released on Friday was lifted from a script he had written in 1994.
"I had written the script for an English film, which I'd registered with the Film Writers Association," claimed Thengdi.
He is now contemplating legal action against Paramount Pictures for plagiarism.
Foul play
The writer-director said he had given the script to an acquaintance in Hollywood who promised to find him an agent there.
"I didn't hear from him in months and assumed the script had not found a buyer. Much later, I read about The Interpreter being directed by Sydney Pollack and suspected foul play," said a distraught Thengdi, who has worked on a couple of Marathi films so far.
The plot
The Interpreter tells the story of a UN interpreter, Silvia Broone (Kidman) who comes to know of an assassination plan.
Broone tries to thwart the plan and becomes a target herself. Sean Penn plays federal agent Tobin Keller whose job is to protect Broone.
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