The recent release of an open letter by actress Nayanthara addressing actor Dhanush has sparked widespread surprise. Nayanthara, known for her prominent presence in South Indian cinema, has a documentary titled Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale, which chronicles her life, career, love story, and marriage. Typically, documentaries featuring film celebrities use clips and songs from their popular films, but Nayanthara faced obstacles in this regard.
Despite multiple appeals, Nayanthara was denied permission to use clips or songs from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, a major hit produced by Dhanush and directed by Vignesh Shivan. The film, which features celebrated music and is regarded as one of Nayanthara’s finest performances, received no approval from Dhanush for inclusion in her documentary. As a result, Nayanthara included a brief, 3-second behind-the-scenes clip from the film, which led Dhanush to issue a legal notice demanding Rs. 10 crores in damages for copyright infringement. This demand prompted Nayanthara to pen a strongly worded open letter, addressing her frustrations and allegations against Dhanush.
In the letter, Nayanthara expressed her disappointment, saying, “I wish you were half the person you claim to be at audio launches before your fans. You don’t practice what you preach, and I still remember your words about Naanum Rowdy Dhaan before its release. Those words caused scars that haven’t healed.”
She continued, “Your ego seemed visibly bruised after the film’s success. Even at the Filmfare Awards in 2016, anyone with a discerning eye could see your displeasure. Such actions from you are disappointing and reflect poorly on your character. While you may justify this from a copyright perspective, remember that moral integrity is a higher court.”
Nayanthara concluded with a pointed remark: “You might spin a story and deliver it at your next audio launch, but remember, God is watching. I’d like to introduce the German word ‘schadenfreude’ to your vocabulary and hope you never savor that emotion with us or anyone else.”