By Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi Faces New Title Dispute as Original Producers Assert Ownership
The title of Sudha Kongara’s upcoming multi-starrer film, Parasakthi, featuring Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela, has found itself at the center of yet another controversy. This new issue emerged just days after the film’s makers successfully resolved a prior title dispute with the team behind Vijay Antony’s Sakthi Thirumagan.
On Thursday, Parasakthi’s producers announced that they had secured the necessary permissions to use the title, seemingly putting an end to legal complications. However, late that night, National Pictures—the production house behind the original Parasakthi (1952), which starred the legendary Sivaji Ganesan—issued a public statement asserting that they hold exclusive rights to the title. They urged other filmmakers to refrain from using it for their projects.
In the statement, National Pictures explained that while AVM Productions distributed the original Parasakthi in select regions, they were never the actual producers. R Karthikeyan, the grandson of Perumal Mudaliar, who founded National Pictures, clarified that AVM Productions only had distribution rights and that the full ownership of the title remains with his family’s production house. He also revealed that National Pictures is currently working on a digitally restored version of the 1952 classic to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
“We have begun work on releasing a digitally restored version of Parasakthi, which is about to mark its 75th year,” Karthikeyan said. “At this juncture, we request that no one else use the title Parasakthi, for which we have full rights, as their film’s title.”
Speaking to us on Friday afternoon, Karthikeyan further elaborated on the situation. “The makers of the new film haven’t reached out to us yet. We are not saying that we would outright refuse them the title, but we want to establish that National Pictures is the rightful producer of Parasakthi, as per the censor certificate,” he explained. “It seems like they assumed AVM Productions was the original producer because our company has been away from the film industry for many years.”
This latest development adds another layer of uncertainty to the film’s title. The legalities surrounding movie titles in the Indian film industry can often be complex, with rights sometimes held by multiple parties due to distribution, production, or archival agreements. In this case, National Pictures maintains that their rights to the title remain undisputed, while the makers of the new Parasakthi believe they have obtained the necessary permissions.
Industry insiders speculate that the Parasakthi team may now have to negotiate directly with National Pictures to resolve the matter amicably. Some suggest that the filmmakers could either seek an agreement with Karthikeyan’s family or consider modifying the title to avoid further disputes.
The original Parasakthi (1952) is regarded as a landmark film in Tamil cinema. Directed by Krishnan-Panju and scripted by M. Karunanidhi, the film was a critical and commercial success, known for its powerful dialogues and strong social message. The film marked the debut of Sivaji Ganesan, who went on to become one of the most celebrated actors in Indian cinema. Given its iconic status, it is understandable why National Pictures is protective of its legacy and hesitant to allow another film to carry the same title without proper authorization.
With the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the classic Parasakthi approaching, National Pictures is determined to ensure that the film’s name remains associated solely with its historical and cultural significance. Meanwhile, the makers of the new Parasakthi now face the challenge of resolving this title dispute before proceeding with their film’s release.
As of now, it remains to be seen how the filmmakers will respond to National Pictures’ claim. If a resolution is not reached soon, the issue could escalate into a legal battle that may further delay the film’s production and release. For now, all eyes are on both parties to see how they navigate this dispute in the coming weeks.
