Dhanush vs Nayanthara: Madras High Court dismisses Netflix’s plea, sets February 5 hearing for copyright case

The Madras High Court has dismissed Netflix’s petition to reject the lawsuit filed by Dhanush's production company, Wunderbar Productions, in relation to the documentary 'Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale'. The documentary, which chronicles actress Nayanthara's wedding, was released on Netflix’s OTT platform. Wunderbar Productions, which had produced the film 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan', filed a case claiming that footage from their film had been used without permission in the documentary. They sought compensation of ₹10 crore, arguing that the footage had been used improperly.

According to News 18, during the hearing, Netflix defended by stating that Wunderbar Productions did not have the right to claim copyright over the footage of the film, which was not included in the movie itself. The streaming platform also pointed out that the footage was originally released in 2020, and the lawsuit was filed only in 2024, making the legal action untimely. Netflix further argued that the footage used in the documentary was filmed on set and was in the public domain. On the other hand, Wunderbar Productions insisted that all content, including Nayanthara's makeup, costume, and scenes, were owned by the company, as agreed upon during the actress's contract signing. They also highlighted that Nayanthara had signed off on the terms, affirming their ownership of the footage in question.

After considering both parties' arguments, the Madras High Court decided to postpone issuing an order on Netflix’s petition to dismiss the lawsuit. The court did not set a specific date for the ruling. However, during today’s hearing, Judge Abdul Kuthus dismissed Netflix's plea, and the main copyright case filed by Wonderbar Productions will now be scheduled for a hearing on February 5. This decision marks a crucial development in the ongoing legal battle between the two parties.