Digital News Guru Entertainment Desk:
A landmark film marred by piracy
Released on 31 October 2025, Roi Roi Binale marked the last screen appearance of Zubeen Garg, an iconic singer-actor of Assamese cinema whose sudden demise in September shocked the region. The film quickly became a cultural event, with theatres in Assam and even beyond scheduling early morning shows, underscoring the emotional and commercial weight of the project.
Amid this high-profile release, the makers and the Assamese film community found themselves battling a new threat: piracy. Within days of the theatrical premiere, unauthorized uploads of portions of the film began circulating online.
Zubeen Garg’s Legacy Film ‘Roi Roi Binale’ Hit by Piracy, YouTuber in Custody
On 13 November 2025, police in Assam arrested a YouTuber, identified as Rafiqul Islam from Lakhipur in Goalpara district, who allegedly uploaded clips of Roi Roi Binale on his YouTube channel (“Rafiqul R Vlogs”).
A criminal case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station, Panbazar, under various statutes including the Copyright Act, 1957, the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The accused was remanded to three days in police custody.
Production and direction staff revealed that they had identified hundreds of rogue YouTube channels and fake social-media profiles uploading the film illegally.
Why this matters for Assamese cinema
Financial stakes
For a regional film industry like Assam’s, where budgets are modest and theatrical runs limited, piracy can be especially damaging. Roi Roi Binale broke records: within its first 12 days it reportedly earned around Rs 16 crore, making it the highest-grossing Assamese film to date.
Unauthorized leaks risk undermining the theatrical window — integral for regional films — because if large portions of the film are already viewable online, many potential paying viewers may skip the cinema. The producers explicitly flagged this concern after discovering uploads just days after release.
Cultural and emotional stakes
Beyond commerce, the film carries heavy emotional weight. It is the swan song of Zubeen Garg, a cultural icon in Assam whose career spanned decades and multiple art-forms. The scale of public attendance, tributes and the state government’s support (such as donating GST share to a foundation in his name) reflect this.
Thus, piracy here is perceived not just as a financial crime, but as an affront to collective emotion, regional pride and cultural memory. The president of the student body All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) termed the act a “cultural tragedy for Assam.”
A signal for anti-piracy enforcement
The film industry in India constantly battles piracy, but when a regional film of this magnitude is targeted, the case draws heightened scrutiny. The swift arrest signals that regional cinema is willing to use legal tools and that authorities may increasingly lean into cyber-enforcement for leaks. The filmmakers lodged formal complaints, traced channels, and demanded action.
What’s at stake & future watch-points
Potential consequences
- Revenue impact: If unauthorized copies spread, theatrical box office, digital rights values, and downstream licensing might suffer.
- Producer risks: Regional producers may face pressure to alter release strategies (e.g., shorter windows, simultaneous digital releases) in order to mitigate piracy risks.
- Industry culture: The incident may drive stronger lobbying for anti-piracy campaigns, legislative reforms, or technological safeguards (watermarking, monitoring, etc).
- Public awareness: The community around Assam has already begun to mobilise — fans urged to refrain from sharing illegal versions and to watch the film in theatres as a tribute.
What to watch
- Will there be further arrests or a broader network uncovered (uploaders, re-uploaders, downloader-sites)?
- How the makers manage damage control: removal of infringing content, takedown notices, legal follow-through.
- Whether the theatrical run and digital release of Roi Roi Binale will be affected in terms of occupancy, expansion or licensing deals.
- Whether this case becomes a precedent for other regional film industries (Assam, NE India) in how they address piracy and protect releases.
- How government and industry bodies respond: e.g., awareness campaigns, policy frameworks, collaboration with platforms like YouTube for faster takedowns.
In summary
The arrest of a YouTuber for pirating Roi Roi Binale is more than a singular criminal act — it is a moment of reckoning for Assam’s film industry, its audiences, and the legacy of Zubeen Garg. The film’s soaring success placed it in the spotlight; the piracy threat exposed vulnerabilities around digital distribution, rights protection and regional cinema’s fragility.
The swift legal action sends a message: regional filmmakers will fight leaks, and authorities will enforce. For audiences and fans, this is a call to honour the film by watching it legitimately — not only as a financial act but as a tribute to an artist who meant so much. As the investigation continues, what remains clear is that Roi Roi Binale is not just another film, but a cultural milestone — its protection a litmus test for how regional cinema deals with the digital era.
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