Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale, Nayanthara and Dhanush were seen at a high-profile wedding in Chennai hosted by producer Aakash Baskaran. The event brought together several prominent Kollywood figures, including Vignesh Shivan, Sivakarthikeyan, and Anirudh Ravichander. While the stars added glamour to the celebrations with their traditional attire, their lack of interaction became a talking point, reflecting the tensions between them.
The wedding marked a rare public appearance of Nayanthara and Dhanush in the same space since their feud over copyright issues turned contentious. Although seated near each other, the two avoided any engagement, a detail keenly observed by fans and attendees alike. Nayanthara was seen conversing with Sivakarthikeyan, who also appeared to maintain a distance from Dhanush, fuelling speculation about strained relations within the Kollywood fraternity.
Netizens quickly drew parallels between the scenario and an iconic confrontation scene from Padayappa featuring Rajinikanth and Ramya Krishnan. Social media was abuzz with comments, making the wedding as much about the guests as the newlyweds.
The root of the controversy lies in Nayanthara’s Netflix documentary, Beyond the Fairytale, which included behind-the-scenes footage from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, a film produced by Dhanush under his banner Wunderbar Films. Nayanthara claimed that the clips were recorded on personal devices and approached Dhanush for a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which was denied.
Dhanush’s legal team subsequently filed a lawsuit against the actress, demanding Rs. 10 crores (approximately £980,000) for the unauthorised use of the footage. In an open letter, Nayanthara expressed gratitude to other producers like Shah Rukh Khan and Ram Charan for granting her NOCs, a move seen as a subtle jab at Dhanush.
Her supporters pointed out her previous goodwill gesture of performing for free in Dhanush’s film Ethir Neechal, questioning his refusal to accommodate her now. Meanwhile, detractors accused Nayanthara of bypassing legalities, with some defending Dhanush’s right to protect his intellectual property.
The controversy has polarised fans. One comment on X criticised the patriarchy inherent in the situation, stating, “Indian men will always side with men in such disputes. Patriarchy wins again.” Others noted the hypocrisy of a professional falling out after years of collaboration and goodwill.
Nayanthara’s loyal fanbase questioned the timing of Dhanush’s lawsuit, speculating whether it was aimed at sabotaging the documentary’s release. On the other hand, Dhanush’s supporters argued that rules must be upheld regardless of personal history.
The dispute and its public fallout have raised broader questions about the handling of copyrights and intellectual property within the Indian film industry. While both stars continue to enjoy immense popularity, their differences have cast a shadow over their professional relationship.
As the case heads to court, the divide between Nayanthara and Dhanush seems unlikely to close anytime soon, leaving fans and the industry to watch closely for the next chapter in this unfolding drama.
