Gautham Menon faces legal setback as Supreme Court upholds Rs 4.25 crore payment order after ‘Neethane en Ponvasantham’ defense fails |

Then director Gautham Vasudev Menon fell into legal trouble Supreme Court RS Infotainment has upheld an earlier Madras High Court order in the long-pending financial dispute involving producer Elred Kumar. The Supreme Court dismissed the director’s appeal, making it clear that there was no reason to interfere with the High Court’s findings. so, Gautham Menon 4.25 crores will now have to be paid with 12 percent interest per annum as per the court order. The ruling marks the latest development in a case that has remained under litigation for more than a decade.

The case dates back to the film contract with Silambarasan in 2008

According to reports in The Hindu, the dispute started in 2008 after RS ​​Infotainment agreed with Gautham Menon to produce a film starring Simbu. According to the producer, an advance of Rs 4.25 crore was paid to the filmmaker for the project. During the proceedings, counsel for Gautham Menon submitted that the 2012 film ‘Neethane En Ponvasantham’ was produced under the same contract and the director had fulfilled his obligations under the contract. But the Division Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed the complaint.

The court rejected Gautham Menon’s defense on ‘Neethane en Ponvasantam’

During the trial, Gautham Menon’s legal team argued that the 2012 film Neethane En Ponvasantham was made under the same contract and the director had fulfilled his contractual obligations. But the Division Bench of the Madras High Court rejected that claim. The court observed that ‘Neethane En Ponvasantham’ was produced under a separate contract signed in 2011 and was not connected to the original 2008 contract with RS Infotainment. It concluded that Rs 4.25 crore received under the earlier contract was not utilized for that film.

Gautam Menon’s appeal dismissed, High Court order confirmed

Following the division bench’s decision, Gautham Menon and his production banner, Photon Factory, approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order. Justice JB Pardiwala and K. The appeal was heard by a bench comprising Vinod Chandran The judges, on the issue under consideration, said that they did not find any good reason to interfere with the judgment of the Madras High Court and dismissed the appeal. Upholding the earlier order, the Supreme Court directed Gautam Menon to pay Rs 4.25 crore with 12 per cent annual interest from May 2010, reaching finality and ending a long legal battle.