When Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale was released in November 2024, it was meant to be a heartfelt tribute to one of South India’s most celebrated stars. But nearly a year later, the documentary has found itself at the centre of yet another legal storm. After an earlier copyright clash involving Dhanush, the film now faces fresh trouble—this time over alleged unauthorised use of Chandramukhi footage, with a Rs 5 crore lawsuit adding fuel to the fire.According to a LiveLaw report, the Madras High Court has issued notices to Tarc Studio LLP and Netflix Entertainment Services India LLP after a petition filed by AP International. The company, which owns the audio and video rights to Chandramukhi (excluding select international regions), claims the documentary used clips from the film without proper permission or licensing.AP International has alleged that the producers of the documentary used Chandramukhi visuals sourced from YouTube without obtaining prior authorisation. The company claims it issued a cease and desist notice to both the studio and Netflix, demanding the immediate removal of the footage and Rs 5 crore in damages. It was only after receiving the legal notice, AP International says, that the producers approached them to formally request rights.In their legal petition, AP International is seeking a permanent injunction to stop the filmmakers of the documentary from using any footage from Chandramukhi. They’ve also asked that all existing clips from the film be removed from the documentary. This comes even though Sivaji Productions—the original producers of Chandramukhi—earlier clarified that they had issued a no-objection certificate and had not taken any legal action against Nayanthara.Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale premiered on Netflix in November 2024, offering an intimate look into the actress’s life. The documentary delves into both her professional milestones and personal moments, including her marriage to filmmaker Vignesh Shivan and their journey as parents to twin boys.Earlier, actor-producer Dhanush filed a Rs 10 crore lawsuit against the makers of Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale, alleging unauthorised use of footage from his 2015 production Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, directed by Vignesh Shivan. Despite being asked to remove the clips, the visuals reportedly remained in the documentary, prompting legal action.
