Nayanthara documentary row: Madras HC dismisses Netflix plea seeking dismissal of Dhanush's copyright claims

Judge Abdul Kuthus rejected Netflix India's plea in a big win for Dhanush.

The primary copyright case will be heard on February 5.

The documentary, which premiered on Netflix on November 18, 2024, records the journey of superstar Nayanthara.

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 in the Netflix documentary | Photo courtesy: Nayanthara X handle

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.

"We were startled to read those lines questioning the usage of BTS visuals that are already publicly available and claiming Rs 10 crore as damages," she wrote, accusing Dhanush of not practicing the ideals he promotes publicly.