Madras High Court Extends Dhruva Natchathiram Release Deadline to October 31

The Madras High Court has extended the deadline for the release of the long-delayed Tamil film Dhruva Natchathiram, starring Vikram, to October 31, 2026. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy recorded the submission of Kondaduvom Entertainment, represented by its director Gautham Vasudev Menon, that an investor has been identified to facilitate the release.

The production house had approached the court seeking more time, stating that the film's release had to be deferred to secure an adequate number of theatres, distributors and exhibitors. It cited the presence of several other big-budget releases as a reason for the delay.

The court had earlier, in April 2026, cleared the way for the film's release amid a financial dispute, granting time until June 15, 2026, for Menon to identify an investor so that dues to all creditors could be settled. Since then, the production firm had been seeking periodic extensions.

In the latest application, Menon said the investor had been finalised subject to clearance by court-appointed observers. The observers, M.V. Swaroop and H.V. Hredai, filed a report seeking certain clarifications, including whether they could permit a debit of ₹10.57 crore said to have been paid to Vikram.

After perusing the records, the judge found that confirmation of the payment to the actor was not before the court. Menon has been directed to submit documents to the observers proving the payment and disclosing the mode of payment. The observers will take an appropriate decision after verifying the documents.

Satisfied that sufficient cause was shown, the judge extended the time limit for the film's release up to October 31, 2026, and disposed of the application subject to the observations on payments to the actor.