The sessions court in Kollam, Kerala, has issued a notice to Hindi film actress Raveena Tandon and director Gaurab Pande after a college student filed a petition against her new movie Stumped.

D Sajeev of Fatima Mata National College alleges that the film produced by Tandon is based on the theme of an article he published in the campus page of a Malayalam daily in 1999.

Sajeev's article Njanagalodu Kshamikkane (Forgive Us) lamented the media's tendency to highlight the happiness of cricketers' family members whenever Indians won a match, ignoring the plight of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil war.

The movie is a literal imitation of his work with some variations, Sajeev said in his petition. He said Tandon, who also features as an actress in the film, had acknowledged in a film magazine that she came across the theme for Stumped in a regional language publication.

Judge K Chenthamarakshan has given the actress, director and production company 15 days to respond to the notice for alleged violation of the Copyright Act (1957).