After Dhanush Case, Nayanthara's Documentary Faces New Legal Trouble Over Use Of Chandramukhi Clips

Chennai: Actor Nayanthara's Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale has landed in fresh controversy, with the Madras High Court ordering producers Tarc Studios to respond in relation to charges of copyright infringement pertaining to the Tamil blockbuster Chandramukhi.

The documentary, which chronicles the actor's life and career, premiered on Netflix in November 2024. While it was expected to be a celebratory showcase of her journey, it has now become embroiled in multiple legal disputes over the alleged unauthorised use of film footage.

Shortly after its release, actor Dhanush's production company, Wunderbar Films, filed a case claiming that scenes from the 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which he produced, were used in the documentary without his consent. In that petition, Dhanush's team sought damages of Rs 1 crore. That case is still pending before the Madras High Court.

Now, a fresh petition has been filed by AB International, the copyright holder of Chandramukhi. The 2005 Rajinikanth-Jyothika starrer, in which Nayanthara also played a significant role, is regarded as a major hit in Tamil cinema. AB International has accused the makers of the Netflix documentary of incorporating portions of Chandramukhi without seeking permission.

The petitioner stated that a legal notice was earlier sent to the documentary team demanding the removal of the disputed clips and compensation of Rs 5 crore. Notwithstanding this, the documentary remains available on Netflix with the disputed content in place. AB International has now sought a court order directing Tarc Studios to delete the clips, refrain from any further use of Chandramukhi footage, and submit an account of profits earned through the streaming of the film.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Senthilkumar, counsel for Tarc Studios informed the court that negotiations were underway to resolve the dispute. However, AB International's representatives denied that any such talks were in progress and pointed out that no formal counter-affidavit had been filed so far.

The court has now granted Tarc Studios time until October 6 to file its reply and adjourned further hearings to that date.

This is not the first time the documentary has sparked heated exchanges. In November 2024, Nayanthara herself had publicly responded to Dhanush after his legal notice, penning an open letter on Instagram.

"What's even more shocking is your legal notice after the release of the trailer of the Netflix Documentary... This is an all-time low from you and speaks so much about your character. I wish you were half the person you portray to be on stage in audio launches in front of your innocent fans, but clearly you do not practice what you preach, at least not for me and my partner," she wrote.

READ MORE

1. Nayanthara Breaks Silence on Feud with Dhanush: 'Felt Unfair, and I Had to Speak Out'
2. Did Chandramukhi Makers Demand Rs 5 Cr from Nayanthara? Here's The Truth
3. Nayanthara 'Beyond the Fairytale': Past Relationships to Almost Quitting Films, Shocking Revelations from the Actor's Life