Nayanthara’s Documentary Faces New Legal Battle Over Chandramukhi Clips

The Madras High Court has directed Tarc Studios, the producers of the Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale, to file a response by October 6 in a legal dispute over the alleged unauthorized use of clips from the 2005 Tamil blockbuster Chandramukhi.

The documentary, released in November 2024, has landed in fresh controversy as AB International, the copyright holder of Chandramukhi, claims the filmmakers used portions of the Rajinikanth-Jyothika starrer, featuring Nayanthara in a key role, without permission.

This marks the second legal challenge for the documentary. Previously, actor Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films sued Tarc Studios, alleging unauthorized use of scenes from the 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, produced by Dhanush and directed by Vignesh Shivan, Nayanthara’s husband.

Dhanush sought Rs 1 crore in damages, and that case remains pending. In response, Nayanthara posted an open letter on Instagram in November 2024, accusing Dhanush of stooping to an “all-time low” and questioning his character, escalating their public feud.

AB International, the petitioner in the Chandramukhi case, has demanded the removal of the disputed clips, Rs 5 crore in damages, and an account of profits earned from the documentary’s streaming. Despite claims from Tarc Studios’ counsel that negotiations are underway, the petitioner denied any such discussions and noted the absence of a formal counter-affidavit. Justice Senthilkumar adjourned the hearing to October 6, pending Tarc Studios’ response.

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As legal battles mount, the controversy surrounding Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale continues to cast a shadow over its streaming run on Netflix.

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