Madras High Court Orders Gautham Vasudev Menon to Return Rs 4.25 Crores The Madras High Court has directed director Gautham Vasudev Menon to repay Rs 4.25 crores to producer Elred Kumar, overturning a 2022 single judge’s order that mandated the same. The court’s decision came after reviewing an appeal filed by Menon, who contested the earlier ruling. The case revolves around a film project titled Production No 6, which was intended to star Silambarasan TR but was never made. Menon had received the advance payment from Kumar, owner of RS Infotainment, in 2008 to produce the film. However, the project was abandoned, leading Kumar to file a case against Menon in the Madras High Court. In 2022, a single judge ruled that Menon must return the full amount, citing the failure to complete the film. Menon subsequently appealed the decision, arguing the initial order was unjust. On March 23, 2026, a bench comprising Justices P Velmurugan and K Govindarajan Thilakavathi reviewed the case. The court upheld the appeal, nullifying the single judge’s order and reinstating the requirement for Menon to return the Rs 4.25 crores to Kumar. The ruling emphasizes the legal principle that financial obligations tied to unfulfilled contractual commitments must be honored, even if the project was not completed. The case highlights the complexities of contractual disputes in the film industry, where advances for unmade projects often lead to legal battles. Kumar’s claim underscores the risks producers face when investing in projects that fail to materialize, while Menon’s appeal reflects the director’s defense of his position. The court’s decision reaffirms the importance of accountability in such agreements, setting a precedent for similar cases.#madras_high_court #gautham_vasudev_menon #elred_kumar #rs_infotainment #production_no_6
Gautham Vasudev Menon loses case in Madras High Court, ordered to pay ₹4.25 crore to R.S. Infotainment A Division Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed Gautham Vasudev Menon’s appeal against a single judge’s order to pay ₹4.25 crore to R.S. Infotainment, along with interest at 12% per annum from May 2010. The court upheld the decision of Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, who had ruled in favor of the production house in a civil suit filed in 2013. The case centered on Menon’s alleged failure to complete an untitled film referred to as “production no. 6.” R.S. Infotainment had accused Menon of not fulfilling his obligations under a contract, seeking ₹13.5 crore. Menon and his partnership firm contested the suit, arguing that R.S. Infotainment had not paid the full amount and that the film was completed under a different title. They claimed the movie, initially titled “Nithya,” was released in 2012 as Neethaane En Ponvasantham and that their obligations were fulfilled. Menon himself testified in the case, appearing as both a witness and subject to cross-examination. The court, however, rejected Menon’s claims, stating there was no evidence that the ₹4.25 crore paid by R.S. Infotainment was used for producing the film. The judge directed Menon and his firm to repay the amount, plus interest, and cover legal costs totaling ₹12 lakh, including ₹9.57 lakh in court fees and ₹2.5 lakh in lawyer’s fees. The ruling emphasized that the production house’s financial commitment was not tied to the film’s eventual release under a different title. The case highlights ongoing legal disputes in the film industry, where contractual obligations and financial commitments often lead to protracted litigation.#madras_high_court #gautham_vasudev_menon #r_s_infotainment #neethaane_en_ponvasantham #civil_suit
