'Akhanda 2': Madras HC stays the release of Nandamuri Balakrishna's fantasy action drama

The Madras High Court has stopped the release of Nandamuri Balakrishna's 'Akhanda 2' due to a dispute between the production house and another company, Eros International Media Limited.

Justices SM Subramaniam and C Kumarappan decided to let Eros’ original side appeal challenge the single judge's October 30, 2025, order, which had declined to grant an interim injunction on the film’s theatrical release. They set aside the decision and remanded the matter to the single judge for fresh consideration.


The bench directed that the film should not be released until the matter before the court gets listed for another hearing in front of another single judge who would take the call on the interim injunction.

Senior counsel P.S. Raman, assisted by Vaibhav Venkatesh Rangarajan, told the Division Bench that Eros had first approached the single judge under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, asking for an interim injunction.

Eros explained that it had a long-pending monetary dispute with 14 Reels Entertainment Private Limited. This dispute resulted in an arbitral award on July 23, 2019, ordering 14 Reels to pay Eros Rs 11.22 crore as the principal amount, along with 14% interest from the date the money became due.

14 Reels challenged the arbitral award in the High Court, but a single judge dismissed their petition. That dismissal was later upheld by both a Division Bench and the Supreme Court in 2021. Despite this, when Eros issued a notice in 2025 asking for compliance with the award, it received no response.

According to Eros, 14 Reels tried to sidestep the award by shifting its operations to a new entity—14 Reels Plus LLP—run by family members of the original company’s directors. Eros alleged that the new entity was being used to avoid payment and to start work on the film 'Akhanda 2'.

The single judge, however, refused to grant an interim injunction on the movie’s release. He held that a Section 9 application should not be routinely used when the award holder had the option of filing an execution petition under Section 36 of the Act.

The Division Bench disagreed. It said that Section 9 is an independent remedy and can be used by an award-holder to seek interim protection. The Bench therefore sent the matter back to the single judge for a fresh look at the merits. Meanwhile, Nandamuri Balakrishna was last seen in 'Daaku Maharaaj' which had received good reviews from the audiences, especially for Thaman's soundtrack.

'Akhanda 2' features Nandamuri Balakrishna and stars Samyuktha as the female lead. It also includes Aadhi Pinisetty and 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' fame Harshaali Malhotra in an important character. The music is composed by Thaman.

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