‘Men tried to destroy my career & film’: Filmmaker Gautham Menon
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Chennai: The long-delayed Tamil film Dhruva Natchathiram is finally set for release after the Madras High Court granted permission, bringing relief to director Gautham Vasudev Menon, who has alleged attempts to sabotage both his career and the film’s release.
Sharing his response on social media following the court’s intervention, Menon indicated that certain individuals had tried to derail the project and block its theatrical release.
Menon wrote on Instagram, “Some men tried to destroy my career and stop my film from releasing, a film that’s also the work of more than a hundred people.”
He expressed gratitude to the court and acknowledged the role played by his legal advisor, advocate Abdul Hameed, in helping him navigate the prolonged legal and financial hurdles. He also credited Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy for facilitating the final breakthrough that cleared the path for the film’s release.
He wrote, “Another man, my legal counsel, Senior Advocate Abdul Hameed, assured me there’s a way ahead and walked me towards it. And nowa very important, Ho’ble Justice-Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy has paved the way for me and finally there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The spy thriller, starring Vikram in the lead, has faced repeated delays since production began in 2016. The film had most recently been expected to release on March 19, 2026, but continued to be held back due to financial and legal complications. With the court’s intervention, the release is now expected to take place soon, ending nearly a decade of uncertainty.
Apart from Vikram, the film features a notable ensemble cast including Vinayakan, Ritu Varma, Aishwarya Rajesh, R. Parthiban, Radhika Sarathkumar and Simran. The music for the film has been composed by Harris Jayaraj.
The development marks a significant turning point for the project, which had remained stalled for years despite being one of the most anticipated films in Tamil cinema. Menon’s remarks, coming immediately after the legal clearance, underscore the scale of challenges faced by the production and highlight the high-stakes battle behind bringing the film to theatres.
Menon concluded the post that, “A landmark order passed to release Dhruva Nachathiram will serve as a benchmark to any film stuck in an industry that rearely works with organised and structured funds.”