The Madras High Court has reserved its order on an application filed by Netflix seeking to dismiss a lawsuit brought by actor Dhanush, who alleged copyright infringement in the documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale. The documentary, available on Netflix, explores the life and career of actress Nayanthara.Dhanush’s production house, Wunderbar Films, filed the suit against Nayanthara, her husband Vignesh Shivan, and Netflix, claiming that behind-the-scenes (BTS) visuals and clips from the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan were used without permission. Dhanush alleged that the usage violated his copyright under the Copyright Act, 1957, as no no-objection certificate (NOC) was obtained. He further claimed that the release of the documentary on November 18 caused him significant financial losses and sought ₹10 crore in damages.
On Wednesday, Justice Abdul Quddhose heard arguments from both sides. Netflix’s counsel argued that the BTS visuals were not part of the actual film, and therefore, Dhanush could not claim copyright entitlement under the Copyright Act, 1957. Conversely, Dhanush’s counsel, senior advocate PS Raman, contended that the costumes and makeup used in the BTS clippings were the property of Wunderbar Films, granting Dhanush the right to sue for copyright infringement.
After hearing the submissions, the court reserved its decision, with no specific date mentioned for the order.