A financier has approached the Madras High Court to restrain Prakash Raj from releasing his production venture ‘Payanam’, starring Nagarjuna in the lead role and directed by Radha Mohan.

According to the petitioner, Mahendra Kumar Jain, proprietor of Metal Fabricators in Park Town, the actor-producer had failed to repay the amount borrowed from him, and hence the film should not be allowed to be released till the amount is settled.

The applicant said Prakash Raj borrowed money from him and subsequently had executed an undertaking not to sell or part with the rights nor release his earlier movie ‘Abiyum Nanum’. However, Prakash Raj released the movie without settling his dues.

He is now planning to release ‘Payanam’, his other production venture too, Jain said and added that if ‘Payanam’ was allowed to be released without settling the dues, it would defeat his rights. Justice V Ramasubramanian posted to February 10, further hearing of the suit.