Nayanthara vs. Dhanush: The ₹10 Crore Clip Controversy

In a dramatic turn of events, South Indian cinema's powerhouses, Nayanthara and Dhanush, find themselves at the center of a heated controversy. The feud arose over a seemingly minor issue—a three-second clip from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan that appeared in the trailer of Netflix’s upcoming documentary Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale. The situation quickly escalated when Dhanush filed a ₹10 crore copyright infringement case, leading to a series of fiery exchanges on social media.

The Issue at Hand

The controversy began when the trailer for Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale dropped, sparking excitement among fans. However, Dhanush’s legal team sent a notice to Netflix India, claiming copyright infringement for using a behind-the-scenes clip from the movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, produced by Dhanush. The actor-producer demanded ₹10 crores as damages for the alleged misuse of the footage.

What might have been a routine legal issue took a personal turn when Nayanthara and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, responded publicly.

Vignesh Shivan’s Sarcastic Retort

Vignesh Shivan took to Instagram to share his thoughts in a series of posts, blending sarcasm with subtle jabs at Dhanush. He reposted an old motivational video of Dhanush urging people to "spread love and positivity." Alongside the video, he wrote:
"Vaazhu vaazha udu (live and let live),#spreadLove #OmNamaShivaya at-least for the sake of some innocent die-hard fans who believe all of this! I sincerely pray to God! For People to change and find happiness in other people's happiness.”

In an even more audacious move, he uploaded the contentious "10 crores clip" on his Instagram Stories, allowing fans to watch it “for free.” However, these posts were later deleted.

Nayanthara’s Open Letter

Not one to hold back, Nayanthara penned an open letter addressing Dhanush directly. The letter, shared on her Instagram, accused Dhanush of “stooping to an all-time low.” In it, she expressed shock over the legal notice and questioned the ethics of such a move:
"We were startled to read those lines wherein you questioned the usage of some videos (just 3 seconds) which were shot in our personal devices... and claimed a sum of ₹10 crores as damages for the mere 3 seconds."

Nayanthara went on to question Dhanush’s public persona, stating:
"I wish you were half the person you portray to be on stage in audio launches in front of your innocent fans, but clearly, you do not practice what you preach."

Fans React

The controversy has split fans, with many taking sides. Some support Dhanush’s right to protect his intellectual property, while others argue that the legal action over a brief clip is excessive and unnecessary.

The Bigger Picture

This feud highlights the growing complexities of intellectual property rights in the digital age. With behind-the-scenes footage and personal moments frequently shared on social media, defining ownership and permissions becomes increasingly challenging.

What’s Next?

While Dhanush has yet to respond publicly to Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan’s remarks, the controversy is far from over. Whether this legal battle escalates further or ends in a truce remains to be seen.

For now, fans can only hope that two of South Indian cinema's biggest stars find a way to resolve their differences amicably. After all, art should unite, not divide.

Reference from:- https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/change-and-find-happiness-vignesh-shivan-addresses-dhanush-s-10-crore-copyright-claim-over-netflix-documentary-7033554