‘Indian-2’ in a Rs 90 Cr controversy

‘Indian 2’, the awaited sequel to Shankar-Kamal’s blockbuster 1996 movie ‘Indian’, has faced many roadblocks from the time it started a year ago. After a long delay, the shooting started in January this year but stopped after a few days due to a makeup glitch.  Finally, after much speculation that the project was shelved, it finally went on floors again in mid-August. 

The project is in the news for a controversial reason.  Lyca Productions has lodged a complaint with the Chennai City Police Commissioner to investigate producer Karunamoorthy of Ayangaran Films, claiming that he has not only committed fraud to the tune of Rs 90 Cr but also signed ‘Indian 2’ and another film without the knowledge of the company.

In the six-page police complaint, Lyca Productions director Neelkant Narayanapur has stated that Lyca Productions had associated with Karunamoorthy in 2013 to produce Vijay’s ‘Kaththi’ and since that time, he has been involved in choosing scripts and also taking care of the production of the various films of the company.  It has allegedly come to light that Karunamoorthy has diverted funds from Lyca to his own company to the tune of Rs 90 Cr and has also borrowed money in the name of Lyca apart from paying a builder Rs 25 Cr.  

It is further alleged that when the financial misappropriations of Karunamoorthy came to light he agreed to pay around Rs 14 Cr in a year’s time for the losses incurred due to the flop of a film of his and the delay in ‘Indian 2’.  The complaint further shocks by stating that what has come to light is just the tip of an iceberg and that Karunamoorthy and his trusted aide Ms. Bhanu have siphoned off much more which would be known only after a thorough police investigation.  This unpleasant development has further put ‘Indian 2’ under a dark cloud yet again.