There’s a movie coming out (I don’t know when) called No Smoking. The director, Anurag Kashyap had a contest for a poster design for No Smoking back in December of 2006. I submitted three designs. We were told that the winner of the contest will be announced in February but it’s June now and there’s no response. I didn’t really mind that because directors and film makers have a ton of stuff to do, so, they must have been busy with something else. But I was furious when I saw that one of my concepts had been modified into something a little different and put on a poster for the movie and the poster was displayed at a conference. There were no credits or anything. I think that’s very unprofessional of the people that are related to this contest. I posted a comment on Anurag Kashyap’s blog. I don’t know how long it’ll stay there but here’s what I wrote:
“Hi Anurag
Let me first congratulate you on wrapping up your movie, No Smoking. I am one of the contestants of the contest you had on your blog for the poster of No Smoking. We were told that we would get a response saying who the winner is sometime in February but that, obviously, didn’t happen. I am very disappointed in the amount of professionalism that you showed towards this so-called poster contest. Not only did you not announce who the winner is but also went ahead and used one of my concepts for a poster design at a conference. I believe that your contest is a great platform for you to get a whole bunch of talented people to submit their brilliant designs and then rip them off and use them without giving the designer any credit. Very disappointing!”
Here’s my design and below it is the ripped off design (Also notice that the fonts are the same):
Here’s the reply that I got from Anurag: “hey aaina, the winners will be announced soon.. after the release date is locked.. seriously didn’t know your concept was ripped off..the conference poster was done overnight without any consultation by rahul nanda.. if your allegation is true , will rip him apart.. this can’t be happening.. will just get on to it.. and you can claim it.. write me a mail on the poster contest post, with reference to your entry number and i will take him to task.. serious apologies..” AND “AAINA_i am sorry, i saw your three designs.. i can’t see where it is ripped off.. is there something that you see and i don’t..”
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I guess just like Anurag Kashyap’s second response, I am having hard time figuring out how the second design is the ripped off version of the first.
I am sure you know it better. So good thing that you atleast voiced your frustration with this contest.
hey aina why ru making a huge hue n cry for nothing. after seeing both posters above any dumb fellow would say ur wrong. there is no ripping my dear lady. plz dont waste ur time in foolish gimicks. work hard, earn hard!
how can u say it is ripped off???? please explain….atleast AK had the courtesy to reply….if you know bollywood such a reply is very very rare…
Aaina, there is no similarity at all between the two designs. Maybe you got a little too caught up in the scheme of things and had high hopes for bagging the contest, but hey, it’s alright if your design did not make it.
Be careful with pointing your finger at someone the next time as it might just cost someone their job and I’m citing the example of Anurag Kashyap mentioning that he will question his colleague on this issue.
Take care and keep your creative juices flowing, but not your river of angst. Bye!
Aaina Ji;
Don’t lose heart - the whole movie (No Smoking) was ripped off from a Stephen King story (Quitters Inc.) and a later movie adaptation (Cat’s Eye 1985 MGM USA) so I guess this is something that they are good at?!
ya aaina u r compleatly right, they have certainly ripped off your brilliant creative idea. i think so u should sue them for atleast for a million bucks or so as they seem to have copied your creative title NOSMOKING (part of yr orignal idea)……….sry can’t find any other similarity other than that.