Parasakthi, the movie starring Sivakarthikeyan, triggers dispute

Dubai: What's in a title, you ask? Sivakarthikeyan’s upcoming film Parasakthi, which was officially announced on Wednesday with a teaser, is in the spotlight because of a tussle over its title.

Directed by Sudha Kongara and produced by Dawn Pictures, the film features Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela and is based on a true story. As soon as the title was revealed, the film and its teaser began trending on social media, with fans speculating about its plot. However, what started as excitement soon took a contentious turn when actor-producer-director Vijay Antony released a statement in the evening, claiming rights to the title.

Vijay Antony shared a letter from The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC), stating that his production house, Vijay Antony Pictures, had registered Parasakthi as a title in Telugu about six months ago.

To counter his claim, Dawn Pictures responded by posting official letters from the Tamil and Telugu Producers Councils, asserting that they held the rights to the title in both languages.

Meanwhile, Vijay Antony further escalated the matter by revealing a poster for his own film, Shakti Tirumagan in Tamil and Paraashakthi in Telugu.

Amid the controversy, AVM Productions, the banner behind the 1952 classic Parasakthi, extended their best wishes to Sivakarthikeyan, Sudha Kongara, and Dawn Pictures.

The original Parasakthi, starring the legendary Sivaji Ganesan, is considered a landmark in Tamil cinema, known for its gripping narrative and Ganesan’s exceptional performance. Written by Kalaignar Karunanidhi, the film was set during World War II and portrayed the struggles of a Tamil family.

Despite the ongoing title dispute, anticipation for Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi remains high.

Set in 1965, the film is described as a revolutionary drama, with music composed by GV Prakash. Given the massive success of Amaran in 2024, expectations for this collaboration are soaring, making the film one of the most talked-about projects of the year.