Kochadaiiyaan Case Explained: Why Rajinikanth’s Film Producer Must Pay Rs 2.52 Crore Or Face Jail Term

The

Kochadaiiyaan cheque bounce case involving MediaOne Global Entertainment has reached a crucial stage. After a Sessions Court upheld the conviction in 2023, the Madras High Court on 9 February 2026 ordered the producer to pay Rs 2.52 crore as compensation or undergo six months of imprisonment over unpaid post-production dues. Kochadaiiyaan, starring Rajinikanth, was India’s first photorealistic motion-capture film and involved high post-production costs. To fund this, MediaOne Global Entertainment entered into financial agreements with private firms in 2014.

What Is the Kochadaiiyaan Case About?

The case began when the producer allegedly failed to honour payment commitments made to investors. The dispute centres on a cheque bounce complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. AdBureau Advertising Private Limited, led by Abirchand Nahar, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MediaOne on April 25, 2014, to finance the film’s post-production. The production house reportedly promised returns of either 20% of the sale proceeds or a minimum guaranteed amount of Rs 2.40 crore.

Based on the agreement, AdBureau transferred Rs 10 crore to MediaOne on April 28, 2014. However, in December 2014, a cheque issued by the producer was returned with the remark “stop payment by the drawer,” prompting the financier to file a criminal case against producer J Murali Manohar. In December 2021, a Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Egmore convicted the producer and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment, along with Rs 7.70 crore as compensation. This verdict was upheld by a Sessions Court in Chennai in 2023, confirming both the conviction and the sentence.

Kochadaiiyan Legal Case: What The High Court Decided in 2026

On 9 February 2026, Justice Sunder Mohan of the Madras High Court delivered the latest judgment. After examining the records, the court found inconsistencies in the claims of both parties. The High Court ordered the producer to pay Rs 2.52 crore—which is two times the outstanding liability—as compensation to the advertising agency within four weeks. The court made it clear that failure to pay the amount would result in the producer serving a six-month simple imprisonment sentence.

Directed by Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya, Kochadaiiyaan was written by veteran filmmaker K.S. Ravikumar. The film told the story of an 8th-century Indian emperor, Kochadaiiyaan Ranadhiran. Its star cast featured Rajinikanth, Deepika Padukone, R Sarathkumar, Aadhi Pinisetty, Jackie Shroff and Nassar.The music was composed by AR Rahman. Despite high expectations, the film faced heavy criticism for its animation quality and failed to make a strong impact at the box office.