Madras HC to hear plea seeking more time for Dhruva Natchathiram release

Filmmaker Gautam Vasudev Menon has again approached the Madras High Court, this time seeking time until September 31, 2026, to release the long-delayed Dhruva Natchathiram, starring Vikram. The request comes as the producer-director continues to grapple with financial issues that have stalled the film's theatrical debut.

Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy on Thursday directed the court registry to list the plea for hearing on September 11, 2026. The court had earlier ordered the film's release by June 15, 2026, and subsequently extended the deadline at Menon's request.

The financial troubles trace back to a 2016 theatrical distribution agreement between investors K. Punniamoorthy and K. Premkumar and Madan Pandy of Escape Artists Motion Pictures, concerning the Dhanush-starrer Enai Noki Paayum Thota. A dispute over that film led to arbitration, and in March 2018, a compromise was reached. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Pandy transferred 50% of his rights in Dhruva Natchathiram to the two investors.

Those rights were reportedly given because Pandy was a partner in Kondaduvom Entertainment, along with Menon and Reshma Ghatala. In 2023, the investors filed a civil suit and secured an interim injunction blocking the film's release.

In April 2026, Justice Ramamoorthy observed that delaying the release indefinitely would harm not only the parties but also the hundreds of actors and technicians who worked on the film. He permitted Menon to release the movie by June 15, 2026, and directed that a dedicated bank account be opened in the name of Kondaduvom Entertainment for all monetary transactions related to the release. He also appointed advocates M.V. Swaroop and H.S. Hredai as observers to oversee the financial dealings.

Since then, Menon has returned to court periodically seeking more time to clear the hurdles. The latest application will be heard next week.