Acclaimed filmmaker Sudha Kongara has approached the Madras High Court to stop the release of ‘Idhayam Murali,’ starring actor Atharvaa on July 10. Kongara alleges that producer Aakash Baskaran’s Dawn Pictures Private Limited owes her ₹8.39 crore in contractual dues. The court has granted Dawn Pictures time until July 8 to submit its written arguments.
Kongara is seeking an interim injunction to block the release of ‘Idhayam Murali’ until the outstanding payments are settled. Dawn Pictures, led by Aakash Baskaran, who also produced ‘Parasakthi’ starring Sivakarthikeyan, is at the center of the legal dispute. The petition is supported by an affidavit from Kongara’s husband, Kongara Nagarjuna Siva Prasad, who is the director of Undertow Professional Services.
According to the affidavit, Kongara, a renowned filmmaker and screenwriter, had a director’s agreement with 2D Entertainment for the film ‘Purananooru.’ Despite the termination of the agreement, screenplay rights remained with 2D Entertainment. Subsequently, Dawn Pictures acquired the project rights and signed a new director’s agreement with Kongara in 2024. Allegedly, Dawn Pictures failed to fulfill its financial obligations, leading to the unpaid dues.
Kongara insists that ‘Idhayam Murali’ should not be released until the payment issues are resolved. The High Court will continue the hearing after Dawn Pictures presents its response on July 8, just two days before the scheduled release of the film on July 10.
