In an attempt to address and end the ongoing spat with director Karthick Naren, producer Gautham Vasudev Menon published a letter on his Facebook page.
“Just when lots of positive movement was happening on Naragasooran, a tweet from my director Karthick Naren upset me and even though good sense prevailed through most of the day, lots of calls from the media upset me and I tweeted a reply. In retrospect, I feel I shouldn’t have. I apologise to Karthick for that,” the letter reads.
Gautham said that the tweet was more of a reaction to the phone calls and unnecessary attention to the film by the media.
“Through the production of Naragasooran, I have never interfered or even discussed the script with Karthick and have only insisted with my team and the investors who came on board to give him what he wanted. He was given a free hand. We brought in the actors he wanted at very high costs and even the trailers and teasers and posters were his,” the letter states.
“We’ve spent a lot on the film through investors for which I’m liable and the business is not big enough to divert funds to another film like Dhruva Natchathiram, which is seven times bigger in size and is produced by someone else. I’ve not asked for 50% share of the profit on Naragasooran and I know I have no share on the film,” the letter adds.
In an earlier interview to Sify, Karthick Naren claimed that although Gautham Menon had promised to fund his film, he hadn't invested any money, and allegedly used the title of producer to get funds for his own films Enai Noki Payum Thota and Dhruva Natchithiram which were announced a long time ago and are yet to hit the screens.
Stating that he would happily opt out of the film if Karthick wanted him to leave, Gautham Menon said, “I understand that Karthick’s angst and rant is coming from some miscommunication by vested interests and a non-understanding of how the market works. Nobody can stop the release of a film, and we haven’t made films to be kept on the shelf.”
Gautham also said that ‘every other producer goes through this.’
“When a team does good work, there will be somebody trying to bring the team down. That’s all this is. In a few days, all issues will be sorted. And we’ve never held back Karthick from beginning work on his next film. He’s free to do so and he has begun work also,” the letter adds.
The letter also mentions actor Arvind Swamy and claims that he refused to dub his part till his entire payment was made, adding, “We will do the needful very soon and then it’s only a release date issue.”
Actor Arvind Swami, the lead star in Naragasooran, has come out in support of Karthick Naren.
“This misunderstanding has been sorted out between Karthick and me and we are working towards making this film see the light of day or the darkness of a movie hall very soon,” Gautham Menon’s letter concludes.
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