The: Madras High Court refused to grant any interim relief to the filmmaker Sudha Kongarawho is seeking to recover alleged unpaid dues from the makers of ‘Parasakthi’, Dawn Pictures. Therefore, the court did not stay the theatrical 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 wants to stop the film due to alleged fees
According to Live Law, Sudha Kongara has filed a plea in the High Court claiming that Dawn Pictures owes her Rs 8.39 crore as per a director’s agreement. He approached the court seeking a direction to stop the production company from releasing ‘Idhayam Murali’ until the dues are cleared. However, the court refused to grant the interim relief, meaning that the Atharvaa-starrer will not face any legal hurdle before his release as the dispute continues to be heard.
Dawn Pictures disputed the claim and cited earlier agreements
Dawn Pictures argued against the hearing request, saying the matter involved several related agreements. The production house told the court that Sudha Kongara signed a director deal with 2D Entertainment for ‘Parasakthi’ and later canceled it after receiving Rs 4.12 crore. Dawn Pictures further claimed that it later acquired the intellectual property rights of the film from 2D Entertainment for Rs 5.8 crore and has 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 rather than through an interim order.
The production house is citing financial losses as the legal battle continues
Dawn Pictures also informed the court that it suffered 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. It also pointed to a copyright suit filed by a scriptwriter before the film’s release, resulting in additional legal costs. These factors show that both parties have financial claims that need to be looked at in detail, said the production house. The High Court refused to stay ‘Idhayam Murali.’ The film is facing legal proceedings, but everything is ready for its theatrical release.