Dhanush’s lawyer threatened legal action when Nayanthara criticized him for requesting ₹10 crore for a copyright infringement using a clip from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. A three-second snippet of the movie that was featured in Nayanthara’s Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale is at the heart of the controversy.
Dhanush’s lawyer issued a statement demanding the removal of the disputed content within 24 hours, stating, “Advise your client to take down the content infringing my client’s copyright over the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan by using the same in your client’s documentary named Nayanthara Beyond The Fairy Tale within 24 hours, failing which my client will be forced to initiate appropriate legal action, including but not limited to seeking damages to a sum of Rs. 10 crores against your client and Netflix India.”
Additionally, the lawyer disputed Nayanthara’s claims that the footage in question was behind-the-scenes content shot on personal phones, asserting that “My client is the producer of the film and they know where they have spent each penny for the production of the film.” The lawyer further emphasized that Nayanthara’s statement was “baseless” and called for strict proof of the allegations.
The controversy gained traction when Nayanthara shared an open letter on Instagram, criticizing Dhanush’s demand for compensation. In the letter, she accused Dhanush of reaching “an all-time low” by asking for ₹10 crore over the short clip. Nayanthara revealed that she had been in a prolonged battle with Dhanush for permission to use content from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in her documentary. She wrote, “After two long years of battling it out with you for an NOC (No Objection Certificate) and waiting for your approval for our Netflix documentary release, we finally decided to give up, re-edit and settle for the current version.”
Nayanthara also expressed shock at Dhanush’s legal action, particularly over “3 seconds” of behind-the-scenes footage. She clarified, “These were shot on our personal devices and were already publicly available on social media.” She criticized Dhanush for seeking damages for such minimal content, calling it “an all-time low” and questioning his true character.
In the letter, Nayanthara accused Dhanush of hypocrisy, stating, “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 went on to ask, “Does a Producer become an Emperor controlling the lives, freedom and liberty of all the persons on set?” questioning whether any deviation from Dhanush’s rules led to legal consequences.
Nayanthara also revealed personal grievances dating back to the release of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. She stated, “It’s almost been 10 years since the release of the film, and it is a long time for someone to continue to be this vile while wearing a mask in front of the world.” She recalled how Dhanush had criticized the film, which became a massive success, and how his apparent displeasure over the film’s success left lasting scars. Nayanthara mentioned hearing about Dhanush’s bruised ego from film circles, especially after the movie won awards like the Filmfare in 2016.
Despite the ongoing legal tensions, the Netflix original Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale is set to be released today, coinciding with Nayanthara’s 40th birthday.
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