'Premam' leak probe in right direction: Police

The ongoing probe into the alleged leak of the censor copy of the hit Malayalam film "Premam" is going in the right direction, said the Kerala Police chief.

Director General of Police T.P. Senkumar told reporters here on Sunday that the anti-piracy cell of Kerala Police is doing its job to get to the bottom of the truth.

"There are lots of technical aspects to be probed in this case and hence it might take time, but nevertheless, we expect to crack the case," said Senkumar.

"Premam" hit a rough patch very soon after its release in the last week of May, forcing its producer Anwar Rasheed to quit his membership from all the Malayalam film-based organisations.

The issue sent shockwaves in the Malayalam film industry after it was found that the leaked copy freely carried the watermark of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The film, according to those in the know of things, was racing towards becoming the all-time biggest grosser by crossing Rs.30 crore mark in a month's time but suffered a setback with the leaked copies making rounds and pulling the audiences back from theatres.

The film stars Nivin Pauly, billed as the rising star of the Malayalam film industry, who starred in a string of hugely-popular movies like "Bangalore Days", "Oru Vadekan Selfie", "Ivide" to name a few.

"It is now doubtful if the film will complete 50 days in the theatres. Let this not happen to any other film," said Pauly while speaking at a function.

CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani is expected to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram in the coming days to personally oversee the probe.