The Madras High Court on Tuesday while hearing a case filed by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s niece J Deepa, has called for responses to be filed by the respondents - directors AL Vijay and Gautham Vasudev Menon.
Earlier this month, Deepa had filed a civil suit with the Madras HC to restrain director AL Vijay and producer Vishnu Vardhan Induri from making a biopic, and director Gautham Vasudev Menon from making a web series, both based on her aunt’s life.
Deepa had also stated that both directors had not sought her permission for either of their projects. She had argued that the films would affect the family’s privacy.
Justice Kalyanasundaram, who heard the case, ordered for notices to be sent to AL Vijay and Gautham Vasudev Menon and the two are expected to send their responses by the next hearing that has been scheduled on November 14.
Director AL Vijay had announced a biopic titled Thalaivi with the Bollywood actor Kangna Ranaut playing the lead role. Director Gautham Menon had announced that he is making a web series on the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister titled Queen. Queen web series first season will have 11 episodes and is set to premiere on the streaming platform MX Player. Actor Ramya Krishnan has been roped in to play the lead in this web series.
Interestingly, there is a third project directed by Priyadarshini. This biopic has been titled The Iron Lady and will star Nithya Menen in the lead.
Earlier, J Deepak, Deepa’s brother had reacted to Gautham Menon’s announcement, adding that the filmmaker will have to receive permission from him and his sister before making a film on his aunt’s personal life. “Amma (Jayalalithaa) is a political personality and her public life is known history. I have no objection if he has portrayed her political life. However, no one has any right to portray her private life without taking proper consent from me and my sister Deepa,” he has been quoted as saying in news reports.