Malaysian firm asks HC to stall release of Darbar

Chennai: A Malaysia-based film distributor has approached the Madras high court seeking to stall release of Tamil movie ‘

Darbar

’ starring Rajinikanth and Nayanthara, directed by AR Murugadoss.

DMY Creations SDN BHD, a company registered in Malaysia, has moved the plea as a civil suit against Lyca Productions Private Limited claiming that the latter owed it Rs 23.70 crore in connection with distribution of various Tamil films produced by Lyca including 2.0, Kaala, Chekka Chivandha Vaanam, and Vadachennai in Malaysia.

When the plea came up for hearing on Friday, vacation judge Justice M Govindaraj directed counsel for Lyca to get instructions from the company and adjourned the plea to January 2 for further hearing.

According to M Baskar, counsel for the Malaysian distributer, as on November 30, Lyca owed Rs 23.70 crore in connection with various transactions and had promised to clear the payment before the release of ‘Darbar’. “But we have learnt that Lyca is negotiating with some others to give territorial rights in Malaysian region for Darbar, against the promise to us of first preference,” he said.

DMY has borrowed heavily at exorbitant rates of interest from private financiers and if the issue is not resolved without further delay, the firm would sustain irreparable financial losses and be on the verge of bankruptcy, he added.

If the court does not give an interim order restraining Lyca from releasing Darbar before settling our dues, the chances of recovery will become very slim, DMY said and pleaded that the court attach all other material that aids transmission of the film, which is scheduled to hit the screens on January 9, pending disposal of the plea.


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