Sudha Kongara vs. Dawn Pictures: Legal Battle Over Unpaid Fees Intensifies

The legal conflict between filmmaker Sudha Kongara and Dawn Pictures has escalated, with Kongara seeking Rs 8.39 crore in unpaid fees for her work on Parasakthi. Dawn Pictures counters that she failed to disclose a prior payment of Rs 4.12 crore from Suriya's 2D Entertainment. The case involves multiple agreements and intellectual property rights, with Kongara requesting a halt on the release of Idhayam Murali until the matter is resolved. The project, initially titled Purananooru, was reworked into Parasakthi after Suriya exited due to scheduling issues. Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding legal drama.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 10, 2026, 14:41 IST

Legal Dispute Escalates in Sudha Kongara's Case Against Dawn Pictures

The ongoing legal conflict between director Sudha Kongara and the production company Dawn Pictures has taken a new turn as the latter submitted its counter affidavit to the Madras High Court. Sudha Kongara is pursuing the recovery of Rs 8.39 crore, claiming unpaid fees for her work on Parasakthi, while also seeking to halt the release of Dawn Pictures' forthcoming film, Idhayam Murali. In response, the production house has refuted these claims, asserting that Kongara neglected to mention a prior payment of Rs 4.12 crore she received from Suriya's 2D Entertainment. The case revolves around various agreements and issues of intellectual property rights.

Dawn Pictures Accuses Sudha Kongara of Not Disclosing Prior Payment

In its counter affidavit, Dawn Pictures contended that Sudha Kongara failed to reveal the Rs 4.12 crore payment from Suriya's 2D Entertainment for her contributions to the script, screenplay, and dialogues of Parasakthi. The production house claims that Kongara had initially signed an agreement with 2D Entertainment in 2021 before entering into a new director's contract with Dawn Pictures in July 2024. According to reports, the company stated that Kongara terminated her previous agreement with 2D Entertainment on December 18, 2024, after receiving the aforementioned payment as a complete settlement. Dawn Pictures further claimed to have acquired the film's intellectual property rights from 2D Entertainment for Rs 5.8 crore and has already compensated Kongara with Rs 8.5 crore, excluding GST.

Sudha Kongara has asserted that Dawn Pictures owes her Rs 8.39 crore and has requested the Madras High Court to prevent the release of Idhayam Murali until the payment dispute is resolved. Justice K Kumaresh Babu has reserved his decision regarding her request. Meanwhile, Dawn Pictures has argued that the matter involves multiple agreements and financial claims from various parties, suggesting that arbitration would be the appropriate avenue for resolution.

From Purananooru to Parasakthi: The Evolution of the Project

Initially, the film was announced as Purananooru, which was highly anticipated as a collaboration between Sudha Kongara and Suriya following their successful project, Soorarai Pottru. The film was intended to be a period drama set against the backdrop of the 1965 anti-Hindi imposition movement in Tamil Nadu, featuring Suriya as a student leader. The original cast included notable actors such as Dulquer Salmaan, Nazriya Nazim, and Vijay Varma. However, the project was ultimately shelved after Suriya withdrew due to scheduling conflicts, leading to its reimagining as Parasakthi, with Sivakarthikeyan taking on the lead role.