'Madharaasi' dispute: Murugadoss asked to write next film for free
What's the story
Director AR Murugadoss has found himself in hot water after a complaint was lodged against him over financial losses incurred by his film Madharaasi. The movie, which starred Sivakarthikeyan, reportedly went over budget with costs ballooning from an estimated ₹115cr to nearly ₹170-180cr during production. Despite this, the film underperformed at the box office, earning only around ₹100cr and resulting in heavy losses for the producer.
Compensation demand
Producer demands ₹10cr, council rules settlement
Unhappy with the situation, the producer demanded ₹10cr as compensation and lodged a formal complaint against Murugadoss with the industry council. The issue was then taken to the Directors's and Producers's Council, which has now ruled on the matter. Instead of turning it into a financial dispute, they have come up with an alternative solution to settle the issue without further conflict.
New project
Murugadoss to write 'Ramana 2' without any remuneration
As part of the settlement, Murugadoss has been directed to write and provide the story for Ramana 2, a sequel to his 2002 film Ramana, free of cost to the production house. This decision allows the producer to gain value through a new project while sparing the director from a direct financial payout. The development has also sparked interest in how big-budget films are planned and managed within the industry.
Film's performance
'Madharaasi' underperformed, 'Antony' due in 2027
Despite the high production costs, Madharaasi failed to perform well at the box office. The film was released on September 5, 2025, and also starred Rukmini Vasanth, Vidyut Jammwal, Biju Menon, Vikranth, and Shabeer Kallarakkal in key roles. It was released on Amazon Prime Video after its theatrical run. Murugadoss's next project Antony with Sunny Deol will hit theaters in early 2027.