The Madras High Court has rejected Netflix India’s plea to dismiss a civil suit filed by actor Dhanush against the documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale. Released on Netflix on November 18, the documentary chronicles actress Nayanthara’s wedding and her journey in the film industry.
Dhanush’s Wunderbar Productions alleged that behind-the-scenes (BTS) footage from their 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan was used without permission in the documentary. The production house demanded ₹10 crore in damages, arguing improper use of copyrighted material. The case was filed against Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, their production house, Rowdy Pictures Private Limited, and Netflix India. Judge Abdul Kuthus dismissed Netflix’s plea, allowing the main copyright case to proceed. The court will hear the matter on February 5, according to Live Law.
Netflix’s Senior Advocate R. Parthasarathy argued the Madras High Court lacked jurisdiction, as Wunderbar Productions’ registered office is in Kanchipuram district, not Chennai. However, Advocate General P.S. Raman, representing Wunderbar, countered that both Nayanthara and Wunderbar’s offices were in Chennai during the 2015 film’s production. He also noted parts of the film were shot in Chennai, and the documentary was released nationwide, including in Chennai.
Before the documentary’s release, Dhanush denied issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for using Naanum Rowdy Dhaan footage and issued a legal notice threatening to sue for ₹10 crore in damages. In response, Nayanthara wrote an open letter criticizing Dhanush’s stance.
Controversies were raised against the documentary, which elaborates Nayanthara’s life, career, and struggles regarding the patriarchal film industry since its release. The lawsuit was filed by Wunderbar Productions after objections from Dhanush. The case was to be dismissed by Netflix upon its plea, although the court decided to allow Wunderbar to pursue the matter.
