Filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon has moved the Madras High Court seeking additional time to release his long-delayed film ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’, starring Vikram. In his latest petition, the director has requested a one-month extension until July 15, 2026, stating that the film cannot be released by the previously stipulated deadline of June 15 despite efforts to resolve the pending issues.
The plea is scheduled to come up before Justice K. Kumaresh Babu on June 15. On the same day, a Division Bench comprising Justices P. Velmurugan and K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi is also expected to deliver its verdict on related appeals connected to the case.
The legal battle stems from a financial dispute linked to the release of ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’. Earlier, certain investors challenged an April 30 order that had cleared the way for the film’s release by June 15. The prolonged delay in bringing the project to theatres has largely been attributed to unresolved financial and legal complications.
The origins of the dispute trace back to a distribution agreement involving the film ‘Enai Noki Paayum Thota’, which featured Dhanush in the lead role. Investors who had entered into a business arrangement with producer Madan Pandy later became embroiled in a monetary disagreement with Gautham Vasudev Menon, resulting in arbitration proceedings.
Subsequently, the parties entered into a settlement agreement through a memorandum of understanding signed in 2018. As part of the arrangement, a share of the rights related to ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’ was transferred to the investors.
