Late Superstar’s Family Drags Kaantha to Court

Dulquer Salmaan’s much-awaited film Kaantha is gearing up for release this Friday, but things have taken an unexpected turn. The bilingual film, directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, stars Dulquer alongside Rana Daggubati, Samuthirakani, and Bhagyashri Borse. Produced jointly by Wayfarer Films and Spirit Media, Kaantha is one of the most anticipated projects this month.

Just days before its release, the film has landed in legal trouble. A petition has been filed in the Chennai Civil Court by B. Thiagarajan, the grandson of veteran Tamil actor and singer M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. He alleged that Kaantha is based on Bhagavathar’s life and portrays him in a poor light without the family’s consent.

According to the petition, the film shows Bhagavathar as a man with questionable morals who lived in poverty and died as a debtor, claims the family has strongly denied. Thiagarajan stated that his grandfather led a disciplined life and was financially well-off. He requested the court to stop the film’s release in theatres and OTT platforms.

Meanwhile, Dulquer Salmaan addressed the controversy during one of the film’s promotional interviews. He clarified that Kaantha is a fictional crime drama and only partly inspired by the rise and fall of M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. He explained that the story mainly revolves around creative differences on a film set that lead to a tragic chain of events filled with strong violence and thrilling drama.

Following the plea, the Chennai court has issued notices to Dulquer Salmaan and the production houses, directing them to respond by November 18. With this legal dispute now in motion, Kaantha’s smooth release on November 14 looks uncertain.