Home / Arts and Entertainment / Madras High Court Allows 'Nayagan' Re-Release Despite Copyright Dispute
Madras High Court Allows 'Nayagan' Re-Release Despite Copyright Dispute
7 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Madras High Court refuses to halt re-release of 1987 Tamil film 'Nayagan'
- Film production company claims exclusive rights, but court finds no copyright infringement
- Movie re-released on Kamal Haasan's 71st birthday, November 7
On November 7, 2025, the Madras High Court refused to halt the re-release of the 1987 Tamil film 'Nayagan' starring Kamal Haasan. The movie was re-released on Haasan's 71st birthday.
The court's decision came in response to a plea filed by S R Film Factory, a Karnataka-based film production company. The company claimed it had acquired the rights for the movie, including its re-release and digital format rights, from June 30, 2023, until November 17, 2035, through an agreement dated October 11, 2023. The company said it paid ₹60 lakh for these rights in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
However, the court observed that there was no prima facie infringement of any copyright. The original rights holders, ATM Production, Surabhi Enterprises, and V S Film International, argued that they held a valid license authorizing the re-release. The court ultimately dismissed the plea, allowing the re-release of the iconic film to proceed as planned.
