Dhanush files copyright violation petition against Nayanthara in Madras High Court

CHENNAI: The ongoing dispute between Kollywood stars Dhanush and Nayanthara has reached the Madras High Court, with Dhanush filing a petition alleging copyright infringement. The actor-producer claims that Nayanthara violated intellectual property rights by using scenes from the 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Thaan in her Netflix documentary Beyond the Fairytale.

In his petition, Dhanush argues that the documentary incorporated footage from the film without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from him, the film's producer. The court has accepted the petition for consideration.

The controversy began when Nayanthara publicly criticized Dhanush through an open letter, accusing him of withholding the NOC for the documentary, which explores her personal and professional journey. Despite this, Beyond the Fairytale was released on Netflix, including scenes from the film.

Naanum Rowdy Thaan, directed by Vignesh Shivan, starred Nayanthara in the lead role and was produced by Dhanush. The film's sets also marked the beginning of Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan’s romantic relationship, making it a significant reference point in the documentary.

Nayanthara has defended the use of the footage, claiming that it was shot on her personal phone during the film's production. However, Dhanush’s legal counsel refuted this, stating, “My client is the producer of this film. He knows where every penny was spent. My client has not assigned anyone to shoot behind-the-scenes footage of the film.”