Under the Indian Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Copyright Act, 1957, reproducing or distributing a copyrighted film without permission is a criminal offense. While downloading for personal use exists in a legal gray area in some jurisdictions, in India, the practice is largely considered an infringement.

The technical aspects elevated the film to a "masterpiece" status:

The Digital Shadow of the Divine: A Case Study of Murari (2001) and the Ecosystem of Telugu Piracy on Platforms like Movierulz