It has been a turbulent year for the South Indian film industry, with several high-profile legal battles making headlines in 2026. Issues ranging from intense censorship disputes and copyright infringements to landmark personality rights lawsuits and messy divorces have dominated the entertainment space. Notably, Thalapathy Vijay’s final political thriller ‘Jana Nayagan’ faced severe release delays, while ‘Drishyam 3’ fought a tight copyright battle over its Telugu remake rights. We break down the five most significant courtroom dramas that transformed the landscape of Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema in the first half of this year.
‘Jana Nayagan’ censor battle delayed Vijay’s final film
Marking the year’s most severe legal setback, Thalapathy Vijay’s final film before his political entry, ‘Jana Nayagan,’ encountered intense censorship hurdles. The film’s release was indefinitely delayed after producers failed to secure official clearance, forcing them to seek legal recourse. Compounding the uncertainty surrounding the highly anticipated movie, pirated footage of the unreleased film reportedly leaked online.
Ravi Mohan and Aarti Ravi’s divorce case reached the High Court
The ongoing divorce proceedings between actor Ravi Mohan and Aarti Ravi remained a major point of discussion throughout the year. The legal dispute intensified after Aarti filed for interim maintenance, alleging that the actor had failed to fund their children’s education since April 2025. Refusing a request for an extension, the Madras High Court directed Ravi Mohan to contest the maintenance dispute within the Family Welfare Court.
‘Drishyam 3’ landed in copyright trouble over Telugu rights
Despite an ongoing legal dispute regarding its Telugu remake rights, ‘Drishyam 3’ successfully made its way to theaters. Rajkumar Theatres Pvt. Ltd. moved the Madras High Court to protect its adaptation rights, seeking an injunction against unauthorized Telugu versions. While the court served notices to the involved parties declaring that any future Telugu remake deals would depend on the final verdict, the controversy failed to dampen the film’s theatrical run. The original Malayalam version, starring Mohanlal, went on to achieve massive success at the box office.
Allu Arjun, Jr NTR, Naga Chaitanya, and others fight for personality rights
In 2026, the unauthorized exploitation of artificial intelligence and digital technology has become a pressing issue for the entertainment industry. Prominent actors, including Allu Arjun, Jr NTR, and Naga Chaitanya, have moved the Delhi High Court to safeguard their personality rights. Through these legal actions, the stars aim to prevent the unapproved commercial use of their names, voices, likenesses, and AI-generated digital clones.
AMMA controversy triggered resignations and fresh debate
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) faced its worst crisis to date following the mass resignation of its president and all 17 executive committee members over financial transparency disputes. The fallout triggered heated arguments during the organization’s annual general body meeting, highlighting severe accountability issues and forcing sweeping structural changes within the body.
