Squid Game Controversies Stack Up with New Lawsuit: Indian Filmmaker Accuses Netflix of Plagiarism

The globally popular K-drama Squid Game has found itself in the middle of another controversy. Indian filmmaker Soham Shah, the director of the 2009 Bollywood film Luck, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Netflix, accusing the platform of plagiarizing his movie’s concept. The lawsuit seeks to block further infringement on his copyright.

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Allegations of Plagiarism

Squid Game, since its release in 2021, has been a massive hit, becoming Netflix’s most-watched series with over 1.65 billion viewing hours in just 28 days. However, the show's success is now being challenged by Shah, who alleges that the thematic elements of his movie Luck were copied. Shah’s Luck features a group of debt-ridden participants who enter deadly games, where losing means death, and each death increases the prize money for the remaining contestants.

According to the lawsuit, both Luck and Squid Game revolve around similar concepts: desperate individuals risking their lives in high-stakes games, with wealthy spectators betting on the outcome. The Indian filmmaker claims that he penned the story in 2006, and Luck was released in 2009. He argues that Luck was accessible globally when Squid Game’s creator, Hwang Dong Hyuk, began developing his project.

Netflix’s Response and Other Controversies

Netflix has strongly denied the plagiarism allegations. In a statement, they refuted the claims and continued to stand by the originality of Squid Game.

This lawsuit adds to a string of controversies surrounding the Squid Game franchise. Recently, lead actor Lee Jung Jae was embroiled in fraud allegations, and actor Oh Young Soo (Oh Il Nam in Season 1) was convicted of sexual misconduct in March. Additionally, the show faced backlash due to the casting of Choi Seung Hyun, who had a past conviction for marijuana use.

The Jury’s Still Out

While Shah’s lawsuit raises questions about the originality of Squid Game, the court is yet to decide. In the meantime, audiences can watch Luck on Prime Video or YouTube and Squid Game on Netflix to make their own comparisons.

Squid Game Season 2 is set to release on December 26, 2024, with a third season already green-lit for 2025.

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