Jailer vs Jailer clash: Malayalam film director makes an emotional appeal to Rajinikanth

The Jailer title dispute has generated significant attention and controversy in the South Indian film industry. One stars the iconic actor Rajinikanth, while the other, a Malayalam film, is directed by Sakkir Madathil. Amid the legal battle, Madathil revealed the immense financial burden he faced while making Jailer.

3 things you need to know

• The conflict arose when director Sakkir Madathil claimed he registered the title first and requested the makers of the Rajinikanth film to use an alternative title to avoid confusion.
• Both films will be released on August 10.
• The hearing for the matter over similar titles is scheduled for August 2.

Sakkir Madathil's emotional appeal to Rajinikanth?

Sakkir Madathil stated that he invested Rs 5 crore in the project, mortgaging his house and his daughter's jewelry. To finance the film, he sold his car, took loans from banks and sought funds from external sources. The director admitted to facing difficulty in paying interest on the loans and even contemplated dying by suicide.

While he expressed hope that Rajinikanth would understand his plight, some fans speculated that the director was trying to gain sympathy in the public's eyes by indirectly putting pressure on the actor.

(Dhyan Sreenivasan plays the role of a prisoner in the Malayalam movie Jailer | Image: Instagram)

"A total of 5 crore rupees was spent to make Jailer. I have mortgaged my house and my daughter's jewellery. I have sold the car. I have taken a loan from the bank and I have also taken loan from outside. Paying interest is difficult. Rajinikanth is a good person, he will understand my plight. My future lies in Jailer. Sometimes I even thought of committing suicide," Madathil said.

Jailer vs Jailer: The legal battle

Despite the title dispute, both films have distinct storylines and genres. Rajinikanth's Jailer, directed by Nelson, is an action-packed movie with an ensemble star cast. On the other hand, the Malayalam Jailer is a period drama set in the 1950s, revolving around a jailer's experiences with five notorious criminals. Despite the legal tussle, both films are moving forward with their respective release plans.

The clash over similar titles has also led to a legal showdown. The makers of the Malayalam film had initially requested the producers of Rajinikanth's film to change the title, especially for the Kerala region. However, their request was turned down, prompting the team to take the matter to court. The Madras High Court is set to hear the pleas from both sides on August 2.