Aspiring Director Lashes Out At Mersal Producer, Claims Thenandal Studios Limited Owes Him Money
In his FB post, film-maker Balaji Athmanathan said that Thenandal Studios Limited is yet to pay him for a film he had co-directed for them nearly a year ago.
There's
no
denying
that
2017
was
a
terrific
year
for
Thenandal
Studios
Limited.
The
production
studio
became
the
talk
of
the
town
when
the
much-hyped
Mersal
opened
to
a
thunderous
response
at
the
box
office
and
received
favourable
reviews
from
all
quarters.
Directed
by
Atlee,
the
film
featured
Vijay
in
the
lead
and
proved
to
be
a
good
Diwali
gift
for
the
fans.
Now,
nearly
a
year
later,
Thenandal
Studios
Limited
is
in
the
limelight
for
a
shocking
reason.
As
it
so
happens,
aspiring
film-maker
Balaji
Athmanathan
has
levelled
some
shocking
allegations
against
the
production
house.
In
a
hard-hitting
Facebook
post,
Balaji
Athmanathan
said
that
the
production
house
is
yet
to
pay
him
for
a
film
he
had
co-directed
for
them
nearly
a
year
ago.
He
added
that
some
managers
even
forced
him
to
give
them
money
in
order
to
wrap
up
the
project.
"Since
you
are
more
eager
to
make
your
previously
produced
movie
'Mersal'
a
pride
of
Tamil
Cinema,
When
are
you
planning
to
give
me
back
the
money
you
owe
me
and
the
money
you
owe
to
all
the
workers
sir?
You
might
not
know
me
sir.
How
could
you?
I
am
Balaji
Athmanathan
and
I
co-directed
the
movie
'Iravaakaalam'
and
like
hundreds
of
people
who
worked
in
that
movie
even
I
am
not
paid
yet
sir.
In
the
end
stages
of
shoot
your
managers
asked
me
money
and
I
gave
my
money
from
my
savings
to
finish
the
shoot
off.
And
please
dont
start
with
the
renumeration
because
its
almost
an
year
since
I
got
paid.
And
please
do
know
I
gave
salary
to
the
direction
team
to
keep
their
spirits
up.
Again
with
my
own
savings
money," he
added.
Balaji
Athmanathan
also
asked
Thenandal
Studios
Limited
to
clear
his
dues
before
talking
about
being
the
'pride
of
Tamil
cinema'.
"Happy
to
be
a
part
of
'Pride
of
Tamil
Cinema'
sir.
And
sir
when
my
wife
asked
what
I
am
doing
with
an
empty
plate
on
my
hands
I
said
I
am
eating.
Silly
girl
got
confused
and
asked
how
can
you
eat
without
food.
Dont
worry
sir
she
did
not
understand
I
was
eating
Pride.
And
when
my
landlord
asked
this
month's
rent
I
just
texted
him
back
'PRIDE'.
I
hope
he
understands.
So
sir,
when
you
are
done
making
Tamil
Cinema
more
prouder
than
it
already
is,
give
me
a
call
and
I
will
come
and
collect
my
money
sir.
I
hope
I
will
live
to
see
that
day.
If
not,
please
pass
that
money
to
my
grandkids
sir.
Thank
you," added
the
aspiring
director.
This
is
a
developing
situation
and
one
is
likely
to
get
more
clarity
on
this
in
the
days
to
come.