The Madras High Court has declined to stop the release of the AI-enhanced version of the film Kochadaiiyaan, holding that the dispute before it is essentially a money recovery suit and not one concerning ownership or exploitation rights over the film. Justice K. Kumaresh Babu dismissed an interim application filed by Ad Bureau Advertising Pvt. Ltd., which had sought to restrain the respondents from releasing or commercially exploiting the AI-enhanced version pending disposal of the main civil suit.
Background of the Case
The application arose in a civil suit filed in 2015 by M/s. Ad Bureau Advertising Pvt. Ltd. against Mediaone Global Entertainment Ltd. and others. The company claimed that it had advanced ₹10 crore under agreements executed in 2014 for the production of Kochadaiiyaan. According to the applicant, the respondents had agreed to repay ₹20.40 crore and had also granted certain collection rights in Tamil Nadu. It further alleged that cheques issued towards repayment were dishonoured and that related proceedings remain pending before the Supreme Court.
Claiming that the film had now been enhanced using artificial intelligence and was about to be re-released, the applicant argued that permitting its commercial exploitation would adversely affect its ability to recover the money claimed in the suit. It therefore sought an interim injunction restraining the respondents from releasing, streaming, distributing or marketing the AI-enhanced version of the film.
Court's Observations
The respondents opposed the plea, contending that the suit was only for recovery of money and that the applicant had no enforceable rights over the film itself. They also pointed out that the trial was already at an advanced stage, with evidence on the defendants' side underway, and argued that the fresh application had delayed the proceedings.
Justice K. Kumaresh Babu noted that issues in the suit had been framed as early as October 2019 and that, despite a case management schedule, the trial had still not concluded. The Court observed that the original cause of action was based on financial transactions between the parties rather than ownership of the film.
The bench further found that although the plaintiff had alleged that the fifth defendant had acquired the film rights with knowledge of its claims, no substantive relief had been sought against that defendant in the suit.
"The claim of the applicant to prevent the re-release of the film... could not be entertained by this Court at the present stage," the Court observed.
Decision
Finding no merit in the request for interim protection, the Madras High Court dismissed the original application seeking to restrain the release of the AI-enhanced version of Kochadaiiyaan.
The Court passed no order as to costs.
Case Details
Case Title: M/s. Ad Bureau Advertising Pvt. Ltd. v. M/s. Mediaone Global Entertainment Ltd. & Ors.
Case Number: O.A. No. 181 of 2026 in C.S. No. 545 of 2015
Judge: Justice K. Kumaresh Babu
Decision Date: 31 July 2026
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