The ongoing legal dispute between actors Dhanush and Nayanthara has taken a new turn after the latter’s public criticism of the former. In a fiery open letter, Nayanthara expressed her frustration over Dhanush’s decision to file a Rs 10 crore lawsuit against her upcoming Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale. The heart of the controversy revolves around a brief, three-second behind-the-scenes (BTS) clip from the 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which appears in the documentary’s trailer.
In her letter, Nayanthara accused Dhanush of unjustly claiming copyright infringement for using the clip, despite her team’s efforts to obtain permission. She also claimed that Dhanush had not provided a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the BTS footage, leading to the legal standoff. The dispute has sparked a heated social media debate, with fans of both stars weighing in.
In response to Nayanthara’s open letter, Dhanush’s legal team has issued a formal statement, refuting the accusations and clarifying the legal standing of the issue. The lawyer representing Dhanush emphasized that, as the producer of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, Dhanush holds full rights over the behind-the-scenes footage used in the documentary. The legal team contested Nayanthara’s claims, calling them “baseless” and challenging the authenticity of her statements regarding the footage’s ownership.
The statement reads, “My client is the producer of the film and is fully aware of where each penny was spent during the production of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. Your client has stated that my client did not commission any individual to shoot the behind-the-scenes footage. This statement is baseless, and your client is put to strict proof of the same.”
Dhanush’s lawyer further pointed out that the footage in question belongs to Dhanush, as the producer, not to the individual who recorded it. The statement also criticized Nayanthara’s team for their “ambiguous” submission regarding the ownership and usage rights of the BTS content.
The legal team has now demanded that Nayanthara and her team remove the disputed content from the documentary within 24 hours. If the content is not taken down within the stipulated time, Dhanush has vowed to initiate legal proceedings against both Nayanthara and Netflix India, seeking damages amounting to Rs 10 crores.
The statement concluded with a stern warning, “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 Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale within 24 hours. Failing which, my client will be forced to initiate appropriate legal action, including but not limited to seeking damages to the sum of Rs 10 crores against your client and Netflix India.”
The controversy erupted after Nayanthara’s team failed to secure a NOC from Dhanush, with the actress claiming that they had made multiple attempts to get permission to use the BTS footage in the documentary. Nayanthara stated that the clip, though brief, had been essential to telling her personal story and the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the 2015 film she starred in with Dhanush.
While Nayanthara expressed disappointment over the legal actions, she clarified that her team had been working diligently to obtain clearance for the content. She also criticized Dhanush for what she perceived as unnecessary legal hurdles and an unfair attempt to block her creative vision.
The battle is now at a critical juncture as both actors gear up for what could be a protracted legal confrontation, with Netflix India also being pulled into the matter. Fans of both stars continue to debate the issue, while industry observers wait to see if the dispute will be resolved amicably or escalate into a full-blown legal battle.
