Release of Tamil film Vengai stayed

CHENNAI: The release of a Tamil feature film Vengai produced by Vijaya Productions and directed by Hari and starring Dhanush, has been stayed by the Madras High Court.Justice V Ramasubramanian granted the injunction on Friday while passing interim orders on a civil suit from Eka Chakra Media (P) Limited in Virugambakkam, claiming a nominal damage of Rs 25 lakh from Vijaya Productions and director Hari of Saligramam. It appears that the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce and the Tamil Producers Council, despite the title Vengai having been registered  in favour of Eka Chakra, had allotted the same name to the film produced by Vijaya Productions and Hari, the judge said. The film was slated for release in July this year. “Therefore, prima facie, the film chamber and the producers council appears to have acted contrary to the registration granted in favour of Eka Chakra. Once the film is released, the prayer in the suit will automatically become infructuous. Hence, the balance of convenience is in favour of the plaintiff,’’ the judge said and granted the injunction for one week. It will be taken up on July 1. Eka Chakra submitted that assistant director M J Baal sold a story and screenplay to it. It chose the title Vengai and registered it with the Film Chamber and the Producers Council in August last year.