Dhruva Natchathiram delayed again? Gautam Menon asked for 30 days’ extension from the court
Director Gautham Vasudev Menon has sought 30 more days from the Madras High Court to release Dhruva Nachtiram. The move marks another delay for the Vikram-starrer as related appeals await orders.
Chiyaan Vikram’s long-delayed espionage thriller to release Dhruva Natchathiram It appears to have been pushed back once again, with director Gautham Vasudev Menon seeking an extension from the Madras High Court to resolve the financial issues that have been plaguing the film for over five years.
In a fresh application, the filmmaker requested for additional 30 days to release the film, saying that despite making every possible effort, he is not in a position to bring it to the theaters before June 15, 2026 (as per the previous court order). The latest development comes weeks after Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthy cleared the film’s release on or before June 15, putting in place a court-monitored financial framework.
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The plea seeking extension till July 15 will be heard by Justice K Kumaresh Babu on Monday. A division bench of Justices P Velmurugan and K Govindarajan Thilakawadi is also expected to give its order on the related appeals on the same day.
The previous order had directed that all transactions related to the film should be done through a dedicated bank account operated in the name of Kondaduvom Entertainment, with a court-appointed observer monitoring every financial transaction.
The court had also given Menon the liberty to ask for additional time if the film is not released within the stipulated time frame.
The legal battle over the film stems from a 2018 memorandum of understanding between Punniamoorthy and investors. Premkumar and producer Madan Pandey, under which investors reportedly acquired 50 percent rights Dhruva Natchathiram. The controversy eventually led to a civil suit and an interim injunction against the release of the film. Both the investors have also challenged the April 30 order before the Division Bench.
Dhruva NatchathiramWhich stars Vikram along with Ritu Varma, Vinayakan, R Parthiban, Simran and Radhika Sarathkumar, first went on floors in 2017. The film has since faced several setbacks due to financial issues, legal hurdles, and delays caused by the pandemic. Although shooting was completed in 2023 and a November 2023 release was announced, the project was pulled back at the last minute due to pending financial obligations.
With Menon now seeking additional time from the court, the wait for the long-delayed film will continue, with the makers yet to announce a new release date.