Chennai, Aug 17:
The Madras High Court has directed Dawn Pictures Private Limited, producer of the Sivakarthikeyan-starrer Parasakthi, to furnish security for ₹8.39 crore in connection with a remuneration dispute filed by director Sudha Kongara.
Parasakthi, starring Sivakarthikeyan and directed by Sudha Kongara, was produced by Dawn Pictures, owned by Aakash Baskaran, and released in January.
According to Sudha Kongara’s petition, she had entered into an agreement with Dawn Pictures for a remuneration of ₹15 crore for directing the film.
She alleged that ₹8.39 crore remained unpaid and approached the Madras High Court seeking recovery of the outstanding amount along with interest at the rate of 8 per cent from February 8.
The director’s petition sought directions to the production company to settle the alleged outstanding remuneration and interest.
Hearing the case, Justice Kumaresh Babu directed Dawn Pictures Private Limited to furnish security equivalent to ₹8.39 crore within four weeks.
The court’s direction is intended to secure the amount claimed in the ongoing dispute while the case proceeds.
The judge also made it clear that if the production company fails to comply with the order, the revenues from its future films could be attached.
The order could have significant implications for the production house, particularly as the court has linked compliance with the security direction to the revenue generated by its upcoming projects.
The case centres on the alleged non-payment of a substantial portion of the remuneration agreed upon between the director and the production company.
Sudha Kongara has sought recovery of the ₹8.39-crore balance along with applicable interest, while the production company’s position will be considered as the legal proceedings progress.
The High Court’s latest order does not finally decide the underlying remuneration dispute but requires the producer to secure the amount claimed within the stipulated four-week period.
The case is now expected to come up for further proceedings after the compliance period.