Gautham Menon Secures Investor, Courts Set Oct 31 Deadline for Dhruva Natchathiram Release

Chennai – Film‑maker Gautham Vasudev Menon appeared before the Madras High Court on Thursday, assuring the bench that a fresh investor had been identified to get his much‑talked‑about project, Dhruva Natchathiram, onto screens before the end of October.

Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy noted the submission from Menon’s outfit, Kondaduvom Entertainment, and formally extended the release deadline to October 31, 2026. The judge had earlier, in April, given the team a cut‑off of June 15 to sort out the financial quagmire that had stalled the film.

Since that April order, Menon has been knocking on the court’s door, asking for little breathing room each time. In his latest plea, he listed a string of other big‑budget Tamil films that were also jockeying for limited theatre slots, arguing that Dhruva Natchathiram needed a clear window to avoid being squeezed out.

He told the magistrate that the production house had finally sealed a deal with an investor – subject, of course, to the green light from the court‑appointed observers, M.V. Swaroop and H.V. Hredai. The observers, in a separate filing, asked for clarification on a few points, especially regarding the payment owed to star Vikram.

That payment, as per the court records, stands at ₹10.57 crore. While the exact timing of the disbursement remains a point of contention, Menon stressed that the new investor is ready to settle the dues, clearing the way for a smooth release.

In essence, the director is banking on the October 31 deadline to not only satisfy creditors but also to give Vikram’s fans a proper theatrical experience – something that has been delayed far longer than anyone imagined.

The court’s extension, however, is not a free‑pass. It comes with the condition that all financial obligations be met and that the film secure a reasonable number of screens, distributors and exhibitors. If those boxes are ticked, Dhruva Natchathiram could finally make its long‑awaited debut before the year winds down.