The Madras High Court has lifted the ban on Nayanthara-starrer Kolaiyuthir Kaalam, directed by Chakri Toleti. The film is likely to release in July.
In the case heard by Justice Krishnan Ramasamy this afternoon, the Court reportedly said that the story of the film was novel and its release would not amount to copyright infringement. It ordered the interim injunction to be lifted and cleared the film for release.
Producer Mathiyalagan told Silverscreen that he plans to release the film in July.
The film was scheduled to release on June 14, but an interim stay was obtained from the Madras High Court by director Balaji Kumar, who filed a petition saying he had the rights to the title and had bought it from late writer Sujatha who published a Tamil novel by the same name in 1981. He said that repeated notices to the filmmakers about this went unheard, and so he decided to move court.
The Court issued a stay and asked the producers to respond to Balaji Kumar’s claims by June 21.
The film is a mystery-thriller, and an official remake of the American horror film Hush (2016). Nayanthara stars in the lead as a person with hearing disability, stuck in a haunted bungalow abroad. Bhumi Chawla, Rohini Hattingadi and Malayalam actor Prathap Pothen have important roles. Achu Rajamani has composed the music, cinematography is by Cory Geryak and editing by Rameshwar S Bhagat.
Director Chakri Toleti announced Kolaiyuthir Kaalam in November 2016, and it was said that the film would be the first production venture of composer Yuvan Shankar Raja. However, he opted out of the film and Mathiyalagan of Etcetra Entertainment took over.
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It was during the trailer launch of the film that Radha Ravi passed derogatory remarks against Nayanthara, who was not present at the event, and was issued a letter of warning by the Nadigar Sangam. He was later suspended by the DMK party, but recently re-joined the AIADMK of which he was a member earlier. His remarks had the normally-reticent Nayanthara issue a statement calling out his behaviour and those who condoned it. She also asked that the Sangam put in place an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to deal with such harassment.
The film’s Hindi version Khamoshi, also directed by Chakri Toleti, starring Tamannaah and Prabhu Deva in the lead, released on June 14.
Meanwhile, Nayanthara is currently busy with director Atlee’s Bigil with Vijay, and Rajinikanth starrer Darbar directed by Murugadoss. She also has Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy in Telugu and Love Action Drama in Malayalam.