"This is an all-time low from you."
Nayanthara is currently gearing up for the release of her upcoming Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale.
It documents Nayanthara’s career and her marriage to Vignesh Shivan.
However, before the release, the actress has found herself at loggerheads with Dhanush.
She accused Dhanush of allegedly sending her a legal notice asking for compensation of Rs. 10 crores (£9 million).
This was in relation to a three-second clip from a film she did with Dhanush titled Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015).
The film was produced by Dhanush and was directed by Vignesh.
In a lengthy letter to Dhanush shared to her Instagram account, Nayanthara accused him of festering vengeance.
She wrote: “This is an open letter to you in order to set several wrong things right.
“A well-established actor like you. With the support and blessings of your father and your brother, an ace director needs to read and understand this.
“Cinema, as we all know, is a fight for survival for people like me: a self-made woman with no links in the industry and someone who had to struggle my way to the position I hold today.
“I’d owe this to my work ethic, which is no secret to all who know me, but more importantly, to the goodwill of the audience and my film fraternity.
“The release of my Netflix documentary has been much awaited by not just me but so many of my fans and well-wishers.
“It took a whole team of collaborators and film friends to pull together the project through all the difficulties that were thrown at us.
“The vengeance that you have been festering against the film, my partner and I.
“[It] doesn’t just affect us but the people who have given their effort and time towards this project.
“This Netflix documentary is about me, my life, my love, and my marriage.
“[It] includes clips of many of my industry well-wishers who have graciously contributed and memories from multiple films, but sadly does not include the most special and important film, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan.
“After two long years of battling it out with you for a NOC (No Objection Certificate) and waiting for your approval for our Netflix documentary release, we finally decided to give up, re-edit and settle for the current version since you declined to permit the usage of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan songs or visual cuts, even the photographs to say the least despite multiple requests.
“The songs of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan are appreciated to date because the lyrics came from true emotions, knowing that there’s no better music that we could use.
“In our documentary. Your refusal to give us the opportunity to use it, or even just lyrics from the songs, broke my heart.
“It is understandable if it is business compulsions and monetary issues that mandate your denial.
“But it hurts that this decision of yours is only to vent out your personal grudge against us and that you have deliberately remained indecisive this long.
“What’s even more shocking is your legal notice after the release of the trailer of the Netflix documentary.
“We were startled to read those lines wherein you questioned the usage of some videos (just three seconds) which were shot in our personal devices and that too BTS visuals that are already very much publicly present on social media and claimed a sum of Rs 10 crores as damages for the mere three seconds.
“This is an all-time low from you and speaks so much about your character.
“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, at least not for me and my partner.
“Does a producer become an emperor controlling the lives? Freedom and liberty of all the persons in the set?
“Any deviation from the Emperor’s dictum attracts legal ramifications.”
Nayanthara continued to state that she planned to respond lawfully to the notice.
She continued: “I am in receipt of your legal notice, and we shall respond to it befittingly through lawful means.
“Your refusal to give NOC for the use of elements of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan for our Netflix documentary might be justified by you to the Courts from a copyright angle.
“But I wish to remind you that there is a moral side to it, which has to be defended in the court of God.
“It’s almost been 10 years since the release of the film, and it is a long time for someone to continue to be this vile while wearing a mask in front of the world.
“I have not forgotten all the horrible things that you said about the film that was one of your biggest hits as a producer and a film that is loved by all even today.
“The words you said pre-release have left some unbeatable scars on us already.
“I learnt through film circles that your ego was supremely hurt after the film became a blockbuster.
“Your displeasure over its success was perceptible even to the common man through award functions connected with this film (Filmfare 2016).
“Leaving apart business competition, prominent persons in public life largely do not tamper with others’ private lives.
“Courtesy and decency mandate large-hearted behaviour in such matters.
“I believe the people of Tamil Nadu, or anyone with the right conscience, would not appreciate such tyranny, even if it comes from an established personality like you.
“Through this letter, I only wish and pray that you come to peace with your inner self over the success of some people whom you knew in the past.
“The world is a big place. It’s meant for everyone, and it’s okay for people you know to come up in life.
“It’s okay for normal people with no background in cinema to make it big.
“It’s okay if some people make connections and are happy. It doesn’t take away anything from you.
“It’s only an ode to their work, blessings, and peoples’ kindness.
“You may fabricate some fake story and pack it with punch lines and deliver it in your next audio launch, too, but God is watching.
“I wish to introduce a German word into your vocabulary – ‘Schadenfreude’ – and ensure that you don’t taste that emotion with us or anyone anymore.”
Nayanthara concluded the letter by telling Dhanush that the reason behind her documentary was to show joy in the happiness of other people.
She also suggested that Dhanush watch the documentary and added:
“It is important to spread love, and I hope and pray that someday you are also fully capable of doing it and not just saying it.”
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Nayanthara’s letter attracted mixed responses from netizens.
One user commented: “It’s very important to bring this to the audience and people like you who suffer, struggle, and fight to stand where you are now.
“It’s not easy – read every line and understand that your journey wasn’t easy at all. Best wishes to the team.
“You will grow more and be an inspiration to women like us.”
However, one person said that Dhanush was simply exercising copyright. They said:
“It is his copyright as a producer. And you can’t use it without his permission. Simple as that.
“And he has every right to sue when it has been violated. All this gossip regarding his alleged reaction had no place in this.
“What was the point of an open letter? It solves nothing.”
Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale premiers on Netflix India on November 18, 2024.
Watch the trailer:
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