Actor Dhanush won a case against actress Nayanthara and her husband, director Vignesh Shivan, over copyright infringement. The dispute involved unauthorized footage from the movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in Nayanthara’s Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale.
Background of the Dispute
It began when Nayanthara approached Dhanush’s production house, Wunderbar Films. She wanted to make a documentary and wanted to include the behind-the-scenes footage of “Naanum Rowdy Dhaan” from the film. Apparently, two years and several requests later, Wunderbar Films still did not approve it. The actor used the footage for his documentary, and Dhanush served a legal notice demanding Rs 10 crore in damages for using the clips without permission.
Before filing the suit, Dhanush warned Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, and the documentary makers. He demanded the clip’s removal within 24 hours.
Court Case
In November 2024, he even brought a civil case against Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, and Netflix India for copyright violation in the film as a three-second clip from “Naanum Rowdy Dhaan” was lifted without their consent. He argued that he was the producer of the said movie, and this was a misuse of his rights and thus unfair.
It was presented before the Madras High Court, where it dismissed Netflix India’s plea to reject the civil suit filed against Dhanush. The case continued in the lawsuit in which the court accepted Dhanush’s allegations of unauthorized usage of his copyrighted material.
Response from the parties involved
This led Nayanthara to write an open letter and a social media post stating her disappointment. She accused Dhanush of having personal vendettas and acting out of revenge, especially against their past relationship while shooting “Naanum Rowdy Dhaan.” Nayanthara publicly criticized Dhanush for sending a legal notice demanding ₹10 crore for a three-second clip used in the documentary, referring to it as an “all-time low” and a reflection of his character.
Vignesh Shivan responded by posting the offending three-second video on social media, mocking Dhanush’s legal notice and focusing on the frivolity of the footage in question. This further escalated the public row between the parties.
Consequences of the Court Ruling
The court judgment goes in favor of Dhanush and points to the fact that copyrighted material would be used, only after having sought proper permission for the documentary making. Again, it acts as a wake-up call about legal and ethical responsibility of the producers and filmmakers in handling already existing material into new assignments.
This case also depicts how intellectual property rights work out in the entertainment industry and how personal relationships and professional relationships may overlap, which can sometimes lead to a legal tussle.
Conclusion
This case marks a turning point for how the Indian Film Industry approaches copyright registration. It calls for clear agreements and respect for intellectual property rights to ensure that the work of creators goes about the right use and with consent.
With this case, perhaps future ones that deal with copyright material and unauthorized usage may set precedents on issues related to it, while this one continues to drive a need for vigilance and intellectual property respect amongst the parties.
7 Things to Do When You Receive a Copyright Infringement Notice
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