In a significant legal development, actor Dhanush’s production house, Wunderbar Films, has filed a civil suit against actor Nayanthara Kurian, her husband Vignesh Sivan, and others, alleging copyright infringement. The dispute centers around the alleged unauthorized use of footage from the 2015 Tamil film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in the Netflix docu-drama Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale.
The matter was heard on Wednesday by a bench presided over by Justice Abdul Quddhose of the Madras High Court. The lawsuit also named Los Gatos Production Services India LLP, Netflix’s parent company, seeking to bring it within the court’s territorial jurisdiction.
Key Allegations and Arguments
Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, produced under Wunderbar Films, featured Nayanthara as the female lead. Dhanush alleges that the Netflix documentary used three seconds of behind-the-scenes footage from the film without prior permission. Wunderbar Films claims this constitutes copyright infringement, prompting a demand for ₹10 crore in damages.
Advocate General and senior counsel PS Raman, representing Wunderbar Films, argued that since a substantial part of the alleged infringement occurred within the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court, the court should have the authority to implead Los Gatos Production Services India LLP.
Senior counsels Sathish Parasaran and advocate R Parthasarathy, appearing for Nayanthara and Netflix India, opposed the prayer.
Court Observations and Ruling
Justice Quddhose observed that “a major part of the cause of action” had arisen within the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court. Additionally, he noted that other defendants, including Nayanthara, Vignesh Sivan, and Rowdy Pictures, were based within the state’s jurisdiction. Accordingly, the court allowed Wunderbar’s application to implead Los Gatos Production Services.
Nayanthara Responds
Following the filing of the suit, Nayanthara took to social media, alleging that Dhanush harbored a personal grudge against her and her husband. She expressed shock over receiving the legal notice and dismissed the claims of infringement as unwarranted, particularly over a mere three-second clip featured in the documentary trailer.
The case has sparked interest in the film and entertainment industry, highlighting the complexities surrounding intellectual property rights and artistic freedom. Further proceedings are awaited to determine whether the alleged use of the footage constitutes a breach of copyright laws.
