Karthi's Vaa Vaathiyaar Continues To Face Hurdles, Madras HC Asks Makers To Settle Dues

Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan has been indefinitely postponed following legal case over the CBFC rating. This has given rise to the possibility of a festive release window now open, many filmmakers are deciding to release their projects. Among them is Vaa Vaathiyaar, the Karthi movie that has been halted in production for quite a while. The film which was originally scheduled for release on December 12, was postponed after legal troubles. With a new theatrical release window open, the makers were keen on releasing it for Pongal, but the Madras High Court has struck it down with a strong order that it will continue the previous instructions until then and granted a stay on the film's release. The court previously ordered the producer to pay

Rs 21.78 crores in order to release the film. On Friday, the court shared a statement which hasn't gone in favour of the makers.

Karthi's Vaa Vaathiyaar Release ON HOLD, Madras HC Asks Makers To Settle Dues

In its latest hearing on Friday, a Division Bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and C Kumarappan did not relax the conditions imposed earlier. As per reports, the court maintained that the film cannot be released in any form across theaters, OTT platforms, or digital media until outstanding dues amounting to Rs 21.78 crore are fully cleared. The production house reportedly sought permission to proceed with a Pongal release by offering partial repayment, but the court said that sufficient time had already been granted and that repeated assurances had not translated into settlement.

Why Hasn't Karthi's Vaa Vathiyaar Released?

During the hearing before the assignee’s counsel the court said that despite repeated chances, Gnanavel Raja had did not pay the said debt amount. The court reviewed the producer's repayment history with the extensions already granted. Gnanavel Raja’s legal team offered to pay Rs 3.75 crore within 24 hours as of December 12. They also offered property documents for the remaining amount. However, the division bench rejected this, stating that the deadline extensions had not been honoured in the past.

The court’s decision is based on an debt of Rs 10.35 crore, which, with interest, has amounted to Rs 21.78 crore. This sum was borrowed by the producer from businessman Arjunlal Sundardas, who was declared insolvent by the Madras High Court in 2014. A few weeks ago, the official assignee managing Sundardas' assets sought recovery of the amount and requested an interim injunction against the film’s release.Vaa Vaathiyaar, is an action-comedy film, is directed by Nalan Kumarasamy and stars Karthi and Krithi Shetty, along with Rajkiran, Sathyaraj, Anandaraj, Karunakaran, and GM Sundar.