Madras High Court (File|PTI)
CHENNAI: A Division Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday lifted the operation of the interim stay granted earlier against the release of Tamil feature film ‘Kaali’, starring Vijay Antony.
A Bench of Justices R Subbiah and P D Audikesavalu vacated the stay, subject to the condition that Vijay Antony, the producer of the film, deposit Rs 2 crore to the credit of the civil suit pending before the High Court.
Originally, while passing interim orders on an application arising out of a civil suit from William Alexander, the proprietor of Picture Box Company, a single judge on April 6 had granted the stay valid till April 11.
The judge had restrained Fathima Vijay Antony, proprietor of Vijay Antony Pictures, from releasing it on April 11. He had also stated that the interim stay automatically vacated if Vijay Antony Pictures fails to deposit Rs 4.73 crore.
Alexander had contended that he obtained the distribution rights for Antony’s earlier film ‘Annadurai’ for Tamil Nadu. He alleged that the actor, claiming that the film had come out very well, sold the distribution right at a higher price but managed not to show the preview of the film till its release.
When Alexandar raised the issue of loss incurred by him with Antony, the latter allegedly promised to give the distribution rights of the present film ‘Kaali’ at a lesser price to Alexander. An agreement to that effect was signed and Alexander paid Rs 50 lakh as advance. However, as Antony did not keep his promise, he moved the High Court, which on April 6 granted the stay.
Conditions applied
A Bench of Justices R Subbiah and P D Audikesavalu lifted the operation of the stay granted earlier against the release of Tamil feature film ‘Kaali’, starring Vijay, subject to the condition that Vijay Antony, the producer of the film, deposit Rs 2 crore to the credit of the civil suit pending before the High Court
Source: The New Indian Express