The current controversy between Kollywood stars Dhanush and Nayanthara has captured widespread attention. While the issue appears on the surface to be a copyright dispute over content related to the movie Naanu Rowdy Dhaan, deeper, longstanding issues seem to be fueling the conflict.

Dhanush produced Naanum Rowdy Dhaan under his banner, Wunderbar Films. Vignesh Shivan, who is now Nayanthara’s husband, directed the movie, which starred Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara. This project, which took place ten years ago, marked the beginning of Nayanthara and Vignesh’s relationship, which later blossomed into marriage.

In preparation for a documentary detailing her career and personal life, set to be released on Netflix, Nayanthara included scenes and elements from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. Despite seeking Dhanush’s permission to use the movie’s footage and music, Nayanthara reportedly received no response. A brief mobile-recorded clip from the film's shoot was used to bypass this. Dhanush then filed a case demanding ₹10 crores in compensation for copyright infringement.

Nayanthara reacted strongly to Dhanush's legal action, releasing an open letter criticizing his response and implying that the dispute reflects his character. In her letter, she expressed disappointment that, despite years of seeking permission, Dhanush's demand for significant compensation over a mere few seconds felt unfair.

Beyond the legal argument, industry insiders have hinted that the root of the tension lies elsewhere. During the production of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which originally had a budget of ₹6 crores but ended up costing over ₹12 crores, Dhanush allegedly believed that Nayanthara’s involvement led to the budget overruns.

After Nayanthara, Vignesh also responded on social media by posting the contentious three-second clip from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan to his Instagram Story, captioning it, “The 10 crores clip that wants to be taken down from our Netflix documentary. Please watch it here for free.”