CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday restrained the producers of Tamil film ‘Manja Velu’ from releasing it till May 19.
Passing an order on a plea by Dr P Kalidas, producer and distributor of Tamil movie, ‘Thunechal’, Justice T S Sivanganam stayed the release of ‘Manja Velu’, after the applicant prayed for a damage from actor V Arun Vijay.
In his affidavit, Kalidas said the film ‘Thunechal’ was started in 2005 with the lead actor Arun Vijay. The shooting of the film was completed in 2007 and the post production work was completed in 2008. But the actor did not cooperate with the producer for dubbing the film and was forced to dub with a third person.
Meanwhile, Arun Vijay informed that the film can be released after the release of his film ‘Malai Malai’, produced by his father-in-law under the banner, ‘Feather Touch Entertainments’.
Kalidas approached Arun Vijay after the release of the film but the actor demanded that some scenes of the film should be shot again. But Kalidas, who had invested more than 1.5 core, did not accept the suggestion.
After failing to get the actor for dubbing, Kalidas decided to release the film on December 25, 2009. But, Arun Vijay repeatedly backed out.
Meanwhile, the actor gave an interview to the media that the film would not be released on the said date.
Kalidas had booked 160 theatres but many backed out following the interview. Kalidas said the interview and the non-release of the film caused enormous loss both financially as well as his reputation in the industry as a film distributor and producer.
Kalidas, who claimed that he had suffered a loss of 1.5 crore, has filed a compensation suit for Rs 25 lakh from the actor.
He wanted the court to restrain the release of the film ‘Manja Velu’, acted by Arun Vijay.