Renowned Kannada filmmaker S Narayan is facing legal action after his daughter-in-law, Pavithra, filed a dowry harassment complaint against him, his wife Bhagyavati, and their son Pavan.
The case has been registered at the Jnanabharathi Police Station in Bengaluru.
Police Summon Narayan & Family
Following the complaint, Bengaluru police have issued formal notices to the trio, directing them to appear for investigation. The case was filed on Wednesday night, and an inquiry into the allegations is now underway.
Serious Accusations Of Financial Abuse
In her complaint, Pavithra has alleged that she faced persistent pressure from her husband and in-laws to bring additional dowry. She claimed that after marriage, the couple initially moved out to live separately but returned to the family home within a year.
Pavithra stated, “Since Pavan hasn’t completed his degree, he has no job. So, I started working to look after the family. Some time ago, he took Rs 1 lakh from me and Rs 75,000 from my mother to buy a car.”
She also alleged that her husband’s family launched the Kala Samrat Film Academy, and to support it financially, she was forced to pledge her mother’s gold. The venture later shut down, leading to more financial strain.
“Later, the academy shut down. Again, they asked me for money, and I took a professional loan of Rs 10 lakh. They repaid only part of the money in monthly instalments and then stopped,” she added.
Claims Of Emotional Distress & Threats
Beyond financial exploitation, Pavithra accused her in-laws of emotional harassment. She mentioned that following a family dispute after their wedding, she was singled out and blamed by Narayan and his wife.
She also highlighted that her father had gifted a gold ring worth over Rs 1 lakh to Pavan during the wedding, which further points to the family’s dowry expectations.
According to Kerala Kaumudi, Pavithra warned in her complaint that if anything were to happen to her, S Narayan, Bhagyavati, and Pavan should be held accountable.
S Narayan’s Film Legacy
S Narayan is a respected name in the Kannada film industry, known for directing hit films such as Chaitrada Premanjali, Surya Vamsha, Simhadriya Simha, and Manasu Mallige. He began his career in 1992 and has since contributed significantly to the regional cinema landscape.
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