Dhruva Natchathiram delayed again? Gautham Menon seeks 30-day extension from court

Director Gautham Vasudev Menon has sought 30 more days from the Madras High Court to release Dhruva Natchathiram. The move points to another delay for the Vikram-starrer as related appeals await orders.

In Short

• Menon sought 30 more days, saying release before June 15 was impossible
• Justice Kumaresh Babu will hear the extension plea on Monday
• Division Bench is set to pronounce orders in the connected appeals

The release of Chiyaan Vikram’s long-delayed spy thriller Dhruva Natchathiram appears to have been pushed back once again, with director Gautham Vasudev Menon seeking an extension from the Madras High Court to solve the financial issues that have been plaguing the film for over five years.

In a fresh application, the filmmaker requested an additional 30 days to release the film, stating that he is not in a position to bring it to theatres before June 15, 2026 (as per previous court order), despite making every possible effort. The latest development comes weeks after Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy cleared the decks for the film's release on or before June 15, while putting in place a court-monitored financial framework.

The plea seeking an extension until July 15 is scheduled to be heard by Justice K Kumaresh Babu on Monday. A Division Bench of Justices P Velmurugan and K Govindarajan Thilakavadi is also expected to deliver its order on the connected appeals the same day.

The previous order directed that all transactions related to the film should be routed through a dedicated bank account operated in the name of Kondaduvom Entertainment, with court-appointed observers overseeing every financial transaction.

The court had also granted Menon the liberty to seek additional time if the film could not be released within the stipulated deadline.

The legal battle surrounding the film stems from a 2018 memorandum of understanding between investors K Punniamoorthy and . Premkumar and producer Madan Pandy, under which the investors reportedly acquired 50 per cent rights in Dhruva Natchathiram. The dispute eventually led to a civil suit and an interim injunction against the film's release. The two investors have also challenged the April 30 order before the Division Bench.

Dhruva Natchathiram, which stars Vikram alongside Ritu Varma, Vinayakan, R Parthiban, Simran and Radikaa Sarathkumar, first went on floors in 2017. The film has since faced multiple setbacks due to financial issues, legal hurdles and delays caused by the pandemic. Although shooting was completed in 2023 and a November 2023 release was announced, the project was pulled back at the last minute because of pending financial obligations.

With Menon now seeking additional time from the court, the wait for the long-delayed film appears set to continue, with the makers yet to announce a fresh release date.

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