Actor Dhanush through his production company Wunderbar Films filed a civil suit in November 2024, before the Madras High Court against actor Nayanthara and her director-husband Vignesh Sivan, and Rowdy Pictures.
Published Jan 22, 2025 | 7:02 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 23, 2025 | 11:14 AM
Madras HC reserves order in Dhanush's Wunderbar Films vs Nayanthara case
The Madras High Court on Wednesday, 22 January, reserved the order in the case filed by actor Dhanush against actor Nayanthara, and others over alleged copyright infringement in the Netflix docu-drama Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale.
Actor Dhanush through his production company Wunderbar Films filed a civil suit in November 2024, before the Madras High Court against actor Nayanthara and her director-husband Vignesh Sivan, and Rowdy Pictures.
The petition is filed for using visuals from the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) without a NOC in her wedding documentary titled Nayanthara— Beyond the Fairytale, which is streaming on Netflix.
Naanum Rowdy Dhaan stars Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara in lead roles and is directed by Nayanthara’s husband Vignesh Shivan. It is produced by Dhanush.
During the hearing, Nayanthara’s counsel sought rejection of the plaint because of a breach of Section 12A of the Copyright Act and argued that there was not any cause of action.
Senior advocate PS Raman, appearing for Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films, contended, saying that, they had sent a legal notice to Nayanthara and others as soon as they saw the trailer that was released on 9 November 2024.
Bar and Bench reported Raman as saying, “My office went through it frame by frame after its release and we realised 28 seconds worth of behind-the-scenes footage has been used without my NOC.”
He further argued, “November 18 it was released, 24th I filed the infringement suit so there is absolutely no 12 A at all. Day in and day out this court is hearing copyright act suits months after the alleged cause of action.”
Speaking of the alleged copyright infringement, Raman noted, ” We had an agreement that says everything from the film, including the costumes she wore, belonged to me..so even showing her in the costumes from my film, they were my copyright. I have copyrights over all characters and entire footage. So, the suit is not barred. it has a cause of action and can go for hearing.”
Raman: I saw a few seconds worth of clip on 9.11.24 in the trailer. and immediately sent a legal notice. how can I be faulted on it?
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) January 22, 2025
The issue arose over Nayanthara wanting to use the 2015 film’s clips in her wedding documentary, and Dhanush, being the producer not grating the NOC (No Objection Certificate).
Ahead of the docu-drama release, Nayanthara took to social media, to pen a strongly worded letter against Dhanush, for “festering vengeance against her and her family.”
Nayanthara had wrote: “The vengeance that you have been festering against the film, my partner and I, doesn’t just affect us but the people who have given their effort and time towards this project.”
“This Netflix documentary about me, my life, my love and marriage includes clips of many of my industry well-wishers who have graciously contributed and memories from multiple films, but sadly does not include the most special and important film, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan.”
The actor also revealed that she and her team were served legal notice claiming a sum of ₹10 crore for using three seconds of BTS video footage of the film, that were shot on their personal devices.
