Nayanthara’s lawyer responds to Dhanush’s civil suit: ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan footage from personal library, not film’

Nayanthara's lawyer has responded to Dhanush's civil suit and said that no copyright has been violated.

New Delhi | November 29, 2024 08:42 AM IST

3 min read

Nayanthara's lawyer has responded to Dhanush'a civil suit. (Photo: Dhanush, Nayanthara/Instagram)

Days after actor-filmmaker Dhanush filed a civil suit against actor Nayanthara, her filmmaker husband Vignesh Shivan, and their company Rowdy Pictures Private Limited for using behind-the-scenes footage from his film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in the Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale, Nayanthara’s lawyer has responded. They said that their clients have not violated any copyright laws. Rahul Dhawan, who is representing Nayanthara, said that the footage used in the documentary was a part of the actor’s “personal library,” and did not belong to Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films Private Limited.

In a chat with Hindustan Times, Rahul said, “Our response is that there is no infringement or violation because what has been utilised by us in the docu series is not part of behind-the-scenes (from the film). The same is part of personal library, therefore this is not infringement.” He also shared that they have formally responded to Dhanush’s legal notice, and added that the next hearing of the case in Madras High Court is expected to happen on Monday, December 2.

ALSO READ | Why Dhanush is suing ‘Lady Superstar’ Nayanthara

The dispute between Dhanush and Nayanthara was made public after she wrote an open letter to him, and claimed that he had refused to give a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for them to use footage and audio from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in the documentary. Nayanthara said that since Dhanush’s company did not give an NOC, they had to re-edit the film at the last minute. She also claimed that Dhanush sent them a legal notice demanding Rs 10 crore for using a 3-second clip that was recorded on the set of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. Later, Vignesh Shivan shared the same clip on his social media and wrote, “The 10 crores clip that wants to be taken down from our Netflix documentary. Please watch it here for free.”

Nayanthara, in her open letter, also wrote that, “Your refusal to give NOC for use of elements of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan for our Netflix documentary might be justified by you to the Courts from copyright angle but I wish to remind you that there is a moral side to it, which has to be defended in the court of God.”

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