Nayanthara's Netflix docu in fresh trouble as Madras HC asks makers to respond to use of Chandramukhi clips

The documentary, which was released on November 18, 2024 coinciding the actress' 40th birthday, was developed in association with Rowdy Pictures, the production banner co-founded and run by Nayanthara and her husband Vignesh Shivan. 

AB International, which owns the copyright of Chandramukhi, has accused the makers of the documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale of using clipping from the Rajinikanth-Jyothika starrer film without taking any permission.

Nayanthara played a key role in Chandramukhi, which was released in 2005.

The film's makers alleged that the documentary is still streaming on the popular OTT app with the particular clippings despite serving a legal notice demanding the removal of the sequences and Rs. 5 crore in damages, NDTV reported.

The Chandramukhi makers had filed the plea seeking a court order seeking restrain on Tarc Studios from using the clippings, removing them from the documentary and furnishing the details of the money generated as profits.

While Tarc Studios claimed it was participating in a dialogue with AB International to resolve the dispute, the Chandramukhi makers trashed such assertions.

The Madras HC has asked Tarc Studios to file its response by October 6, when the next hearing will be held.

Earlier, the release of the documentary was embroiled with controversy after Dhanush, who was the producer of the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, slapped a legal notice against Nayanthara and demanded Rs. 10 crore as compensation from the actress for using a clip of the film in the show's trailer.

Nayanthara responded with a fiery three-page open letter on Instagram, expressing shock at the demand for Rs 10 crore over "mere three seconds" of footage, which she claimed consisted of behind-the-scenes (BTS) visuals shot on personal devices.

In her letter, Nayanthara criticised Dhanush for what she called an "all-time low" and stated her intent to respond legally.

She alleged that Dhanush had repeatedly refused permission to include songs or visuals from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in the documentary despite multiple requests.