Mar 25, 2026 12:46pm IST
After the Court Directs Gautham Vasudev Menon to Refund ₹4.25 crore to Financier over Unmade film, Filmmaker’s Representatives Clarify the Cause of Legal Proceedings
Recently, the Division Bench of the Madras High Court directed filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon to refund ₹4.25 crore that he had received from Elred Kumar of RS Infotainment. The director’s legal representatives have issued a statement clarifying the basis for the court proceedings.
Advocate Revathi Manivannan, on behalf of RM Law Office, wrote, "We represent the interests of our client, Photon Factory and its Partner Mr Gautham Vasudev Menon in the civil proceedings initiated by RS Infotainment Private Limited before the Hon'ble High Court, Madras. We are authorised to issue the following statement for public information. It is an admitted fact that an agreement was executed between RS Infotainment Private Limited and our client, whereunder RS Infotainment Private Limited had agreed and undertaken to fund a total sum of Rs 13.50 crores for the production of a feature film. However, RS Infotainment Private Limited paid only a partial sum of Rs 4.25 crores and thereafter committed wilful default. As a direct and proximate consequence of RS Infotainment Private Limited's default, our client could not complete the production of the said film, resulting in the project being shelved."
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The statement also revealed that preferred an intra-court appeal before the Hon'ble Division Bench of the Madras High Court, but the Division Bench declined to interfere with the order of the single judge. "RS Infotainment Private Limited, rather than acknowledging its own contractual breach, instituted a civil suit before the Hon'ble High Court, Madras, seeking a refund of the said sum of Rs 4.25 crores. Our client, ably represented by Mr A Abdul Hameed, Senior Advocate, duly contested the suit by placing on record voluminous documentary evidence, including a Certificate duly issued by a Chartered Accountant, clearly establishing that the entire sum of Rs 4.25 crores had been bonafide expended toward production-related activities and could not be returned. However, the Hon'ble Single Judge did not accept the contentions of our client and directed the return of Rs 4.25 crores along with interest. Aggrieved by the said order, our client preferred an intra-court appeal before the Hon'ble Division Bench of the Madras High Court. However, the Hon'ble Division Bench declined to interfere with the order of the Hon'ble Single Judge," read the statement.
"Our client is contemplating filing a Special Leave Petition/Appeal before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, being confident on merits and on the strength of documentary evidence that the outcome at the Hon'ble Apex Court shall be favourable. The public and the media are requested to note that the matter is sub judice and accordingly are advised to refrain from making any prejudicial comments," the statement concluded.
In 2008, GVM (Gautham Vasudev Menon) was approached by the producer to make a film with Silambarasan TR. But since the film wasn’t made, the producer filed a case in the Madras High Court. The film has to pay the amount along with 12% of interest plus ₹12 lakh lawyer fee.
For the unversed, the director is known for helming memorable films “Minnale,” “Vaaranam Aayiram,” “Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa” and “Kaakha Kaakha,” among others. Apart from filmmaking, GVM has also acted in several films, including “Michael,” “Leo” and “Dragon.”
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