Madras High Court issues notice to film producer in actor Ravi Mohan defamation case

The Madras High Court has issued notice to film producer Shruthi Nallappa of Miracle Movies in a defamation suit after actor Ravi Mohan accused her of damaging his professional reputation by writing emails to Netflix and industry bodies over an unsettled financial dispute.

Justice K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) ordered both court and private notice, returnable by August 25, 2026, seeking the producer's response to Mohan's plea to restrain her from publishing or communicating any defamatory statements against him.

Production takeover triggers email campaign

The dispute centres on the multi-starrer film Bro Code, later renamed Bro Club, originally slated for production by Miracle Movies with Mohan in the lead role alongside S.J. Suryah and Arjun Ashokan. When the project stalled, Mohan took over production under his banner Ravi Mohan Studios, with Miracle Movies agreeing to the arrangement. Nallappa has since been alleging that Mohan failed to settle pre-production expenses she incurred.

Netflix agreement disrupted

Senior counsel R. Parthasarathy, representing Mohan, told the court that Nallappa sent emails directly to Netflix, with whom Ravi Mohan Studios had signed an OTT rights agreement. Reading from one such email, the counsel said Nallappa requested Netflix to withhold any further payments to Ravi Mohan Studios for digital rights until the plaintiff settled all pre-production investments "along with interest".

The streaming platform forwarded the complaint to Ravi Mohan Studios, demanding the studio resolve such third-party disputes and indemnify Netflix from any claims or damages.

Legal remedy, not emails

Parthasarathy argued that even if dues existed, the producer should have filed a money suit before the High Court or City Civil Court for recovery rather than writing emails to business partners. "It is an admitted fact that I have become the producer of the movie, but she is going about writing to Netflix, the film chamber of commerce, and others, defaming me. What right does she have to do this? This has given rise to a cause of action for the filing of the present suit," the senior counsel said.

The producer also sent similar communications to the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce and other industry entities.

Source: The Hindu