The Madras High Court refused to grant any interim relief to the filmmaker Sudha Kongarawhich sought recovery of alleged unpaid dues from the makers of ‘Parasakthi’, Dawn Pictures. Hence, the court did not stay the release of ‘Idhayam Murali’ with Atharvaa. Justice K Kumaresh Babu dismissed the plea seeking an interim injunction and allowed the release of the film despite the financial dispute between the director and the production house.
Sudha Kongara tried to stall the film over alleged dues
According to Live Law, Sudha Kongara filed a suit in the High Court claiming that Dawn Pictures owed her Rs 8.39 crore as per the director’s agreement. He approached the court seeking a direction to stop the production house from releasing ‘Idhayam Murali’ until the dues are cleared. However, the court refused to grant interim relief, meaning the Atharvaa starrer will not face any legal hurdles before his release while the dispute continues to be heard.
Dawn Pictures denies the claim and cites previous agreements
Dawn Pictures argued against the declaration at the hearing, claiming that the matter involved several related agreements. The production house told the court that Sudha Kongara had signed a directorial deal with 2D Entertainment for ‘Parasakthi’ and later canceled it after receiving Rs 4.12 crore. Dawn Pictures further claimed that it subsequently acquired the intellectual property rights of the film from 2D Entertainment for Rs 5.8 crore and had already paid Sudha Kongara Rs 8.5 crore (excluding GST). The company argued that these transactions and counterclaims should be examined together before an arbitral tribunal instead of an interim order.
The production house cites financial losses as the legal battle continues
Dawn Pictures also informed the court that it had faced financial setbacks during the making of ‘Parasakthi’. The company said parts of the film were leaked online during production, forcing it to hire anti-piracy agencies and affecting the film’s OTT value. He also pointed to a copyright lawsuit filed by a screenwriter before the film’s release, which resulted in additional legal fees. These factors indicate that both parties have financial claims that need to be analyzed in detail, the production company said. The High Court has declined to stay with “Idhayam Murali”. The film is facing legal proceedings but is all set for a theatrical release.