Priyadarshan, Lissy to part as friends

Chennai: After the Madras high court facilitated a compromise formula, popular film personalities S. Priyadarshan and his wife Y. Lissy have agreed to part ways as friends and file a joint petition for divorce by mutual consent considering the interest of their two children.

Originally, popular film director Priyadarshan filed a suit in the high court to declare he was the absolute owner of a residential property and a non-residential property (preview theatre in Nungambakkam). Popular actor Lissy also filed a suit to divide the same property into two and allot one such share to her. They also filed interlocutory applications for interim relief,  including appointment of Receiver, pending disposal of suits.

Earlier, Lissy had filed a petition for divorce before a family court in 2014. She also filed a criminal complaint in a court at Egmore against Priyadarshan under the Domestic Violence Act in 2015. Priyadarshan had also filed a petition before the   high court against his wife Lissy last year. All these cases were pending when they filed the present suits.

When their interlocutory applications came up for hearing, Justice K. K. Sasidharans taking into consideration the nature of dispute, directed them to appear before him for ascertaining the feasibility of settlement. Accordingly, they appeared before the judge on January 12 and the judge held discussions with them and finally they agreed to settle the matter.

“Since, the parties ruled out the possibility of reconciliation the next step was to arrive at a modality to part with on friendly terms. Though initially the parties expressed reservations with respect to certain issues, finally they agreed to settle the matter, realizing the responsibility to protect their children.

The parties suggested their respective terms. I have discussed the pending issues and modalities of settlement with the parties. Priyadarshan agreed for divorce by mutual consent, in case Lissy withdraws the allegations made in the pending divorce petition. Lissy on her part agreed to withdraw the pending proceedings. Thereafter, issues regarding division of properties were discussed and an amicable settlement was arrived at”, the judge said in his interim
order.