Quick Read
- Madras High Court ordered the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a U/A certificate for ‘Jana Nayagan’ on January 9, 2026.
- The film’s scheduled Pongal release on January 9 was postponed due to certification hurdles despite the court order.
- ‘Jana Nayagan’ is actor Vijay’s final film before he enters politics with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
- The film represents a significant investment of approximately Rs 500 crore, with record-breaking digital and satellite rights deals.
- The CBFC’s decision to refer the film to a revising committee, after an initial recommendation of 27 cuts, was deemed ‘without jurisdiction’ by the court.
The eagerly anticipated release of ‘Jana Nayagan’, actor Vijay’s purported final cinematic venture before his pivot into politics, has been mired in controversy and significant delays. Despite a decisive ruling from the Madras High Court on January 9, 2026, directing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a U/A certificate, the film’s scheduled Pongal release on January 9 was thwarted, leaving fans and the industry in a state of uncertainty.
This isn’t just another film facing a hiccup; ‘Jana Nayagan’ represents a colossal investment, with producers claiming nearly Rs 500 crore poured into its creation. It’s a high-stakes gamble, banking heavily on the lucrative Pongal weekend. The digital rights alone for its various language versions were reportedly snapped up by Amazon Prime Video for a staggering Rs 121 crore (US$14 million), setting a new benchmark for Tamil cinema, even amidst a challenging streaming market. Satellite rights to Zee Tamil also fetched a record Rs 64 crore (US$7.6 million). The financial implications of this delay are, therefore, immense, with producer G Dhananjheyan lamenting the ‘worldwide box office loss this weekend cannot be compensated at all.’
The Censor Board Conundrum and Court Intervention
The saga began when ‘Jana Nayagan’ was first submitted to the CBFC on December 18. An examining committee, after reviewing the film on December 19, recommended 27 specific cuts to dialogues and scenes, after which a U/A certificate could be granted. The filmmakers reportedly complied, resubmitting the modified version on December 22. However, the process hit an unexpected snag. One member of the examining committee subsequently wrote to the CBFC chairperson, alleging that their initial objections had not been adequately addressed. This complaint led the chairperson to refer the film to a revising committee, effectively stalling the certification process.
Frustrated by the lack of progress and the looming release date, KVN Productions, the film’s production house, took legal recourse, approaching the Madras High Court. The court, after meticulously reviewing the records, found that the complainant’s grievance appeared to be an ‘afterthought.’ In a critical judgment, Justice PT Asha ruled that the CBFC Chairperson’s exercise of power to seek a review was ‘without jurisdiction,’ as his authority was exhausted once the committee had agreed to issue a U/A certificate subject to cuts. The court unequivocally directed the CBFC to issue the U/A certificate ‘forthwith.’
An Industry Rallies: Support and Wider Concerns
The court’s ruling, while a victory for the filmmakers, didn’t immediately clear the path for release. The Additional Solicitor General, representing the CBFC, swiftly made an urgent appeal before the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, seeking an early hearing of a writ appeal against Justice Asha’s order. The Chief Justice indicated the request would be considered, with the appeal potentially heard later that Friday or on Monday.
This legal back-and-forth ignited a wave of solidarity from the Tamil film fraternity. Actors like Jiiva, Jai, Shaam, Nandaa, Harish Kalyan, Aegan, Kathir, Sibi Sathyaraj, and Ravi Mohan, along with filmmakers like Karthik Subbaraj, Venkat Prabhu, and Ajay Gnanamuthu, took to social media to express their support for Vijay and the ‘Jana Nayagan’ team. Their messages conveyed a mix of disappointment over the delay, unwavering loyalty to Vijay, and a shared belief that the film’s impact would only grow stronger. Actor Jai’s tweet resonated with many: ‘Obstacles are always piling up to stop you. Breaking through them and moving forward is nothing new to you—it is simply routine.’
The postponement also had ripple effects across the industry. Sivakarthikeyan’s film ‘Parasakthi’, also slated for a Pongal release, found itself facing similar certification hurdles, raising broader questions about the CBFC’s processes. Filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj highlighted the systemic issues, noting the difficulties faced by both big-budget films like ‘Jana Nayagan’ and smaller independent features like ‘Salliyargal’ in securing timely clearances and adequate screen allocations. He passionately argued, ‘Tough times for Cinema!!… This has to be streamlined and shud be made bit easy for Filmmakers… Otherwise postponement of Big films on festivals dates will eventually Kill Industry!!’
Vijay’s Political Shadow and Past Battles
For actor Vijay, ‘Jana Nayagan’ carries an additional layer of significance: it is widely reported to be his last film before he fully dedicates himself to politics, launching his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). This transition imbues the film with a symbolic weight, making the censorship battle more than just a commercial dispute. It raises questions about potential political motivations behind the delays.
Vijay is no stranger to controversies involving his films and political undertones. His past blockbusters, ‘Mersal’ and ‘Sarkar’, both faced significant pushback for dialogues and scenes perceived as critical of government policies or commentary on governance. These incidents, much like the current ‘Jana Nayagan’ situation, sparked national debates and drew objections from political figures, suggesting a pattern of scrutiny that often accompanies the actor’s work.
The postponement has resulted in tangible consequences, with BookMyShow initiating what is being called the ‘biggest refund ever in Indian Cinema,’ processing over 450,000 tickets. While fans expressed deep disappointment, many also voiced a resilient spirit, declaring that ‘Pongal only starts then’ whenever ‘Jana Nayagan’ finally hits screens. Fan accounts on X (formerly Twitter) speculated on new release dates, with some suggesting January 23 as a more realistic window, allowing for proper programming and securing overseas screens.
The ‘Jana Nayagan’ saga is more than a simple film delay; it’s a stark illustration of the complex interplay between art, commerce, and politics in India’s vibrant film industry. While the Madras High Court’s intervention offers a legal precedent, the subsequent appeal and the broader industry concerns underscore persistent challenges in censorship processes and the potential for external pressures to influence cinematic releases, particularly when a star with political aspirations is involved.