‘Kochadaiiyaan’ Case: Madras HC orders the producer to pay Rs 2.52 crore or face jail

The Madras High Court has issued a stern and clear order regarding the cheque bounce case against the producer of the Rajinikanth starrer movie ‘Kochadaiiyaan.’ This case has been waiting for a long time, and now it is at the crucial stage.

The High Court clearly instructed the producer to pay the amount in that check within a specified time. The order has brought the long legal battle back into public focus and created fresh discussion in the film industry about financial responsibility and legal accountability in big-budget films.

Court warns to pay Rs 2.52 Crore or face jail

As per the Indian Express, the High Court judge ordered the producer to pay the pending amount of Rs 2.52 crore within four weeks.

The court made it very clear that this is a final chance. If the amount is not paid within the given time, the producer will have to face six months of simple imprisonment. The court gave this warning in very clear terms. The focus of the court was to ensure that the affected party gets the money legally owed to them.

The judge said that punishment is not the main aim, but justice must be done, and the victim must receive the rightful amount.

This order has now become the key turning point in the case.

Background of the Dispute

‘Kochadaiiyaan’ (2014) is the first photorealistic motion capture film in India, featuring Rajnikanth, alongside Deepika Padukone, Shobana, and Jackie Shroff. The film was directed by Soundarya Rajinikanth and featured music by A.R. Rahman, with cutting-edge motion capture technology used for its visuals. It was a big technical project that needed heavy investment. For advertising and technical work, the producer’s company took financial support from an advertising agency.

To repay part of the amount, a check was issued. The check bounced due to insufficient funds.

This led to legal action. In 2021, the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court found the producer guilty. In 2023, the City Civil Court confirmed the verdict. The producer then moved the High Court with a revision petition.

Madras HC's final direction

The High Court changed the jail sentence into a financial penalty. The court said jail is not needed if the money is paid on time.

But if the payment fails, the six-month jail sentence will apply. The consignment lays stress on the fact that huge-budget films are financially risky, and it also passes a word on accountability issues in the film industry.Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on reported news of court proceedings and legal claims. It does not constitute legal advice or a definitive statement on the outcome of the case. Readers should not rely solely on this information for making legal or commercial decisions.