New Delhi: Thalapathy Vijay’s much-hyped Jana Nayagan, billed as his last big-screen outing before politics, faces a major roadblock.
Fans are heartbroken as the Pongal release on January 9 slips away due to a court stay. What sparked the CBFC clash, and will it hit the screens soon? Here’s the full story.
Court stays certification
The Madras High Court on Friday stayed the certification of Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan after an appeal from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The court will hear the matter in detail on January 21, delaying the film’s release by at least two weeks. This comes amid a tense standoff, with producers KVN Productions announcing the postponement just days before the planned January 9 launch.
Timeline of delay
The trouble began when makers submitted Jana Nayagan to the CBFC on December 18. The examining committee suggested cuts, including 27 scenes, which producers agreed to and resubmitted by December 22, receiving verbal clearance. However, on January 5, the CBFC referred it to a revising committee without proper notice to producers, prompting a court petition on January 6. The court reserved orders earlier, questioning the board’s process.
CBFC’s objections surface
A CBFC examining committee member filed a complaint, leading to the referral despite majority support for a U/A 16+ certificate post-cuts. CBFC told the court there was “no ulterior motive” behind the delay and that producers were emailed on January 5. Justice Anand Venkatesh asked for the complaint copy and adjourned hearings, noting producers cannot demand speedy certification just for a set release date.
Fan backlash and box office fallout
KVN Productions shared a heavy-hearted post: “It is with a heavy heart that we share this update… The release date of Jana Nayagan… has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control. Thank you for standing with us always”. Tickets worth up to Rs 2000 in Karnataka, Kerala, and overseas were sold, risking Rs 500 crore losses from cancellations and potential piracy. Fans flooded social media with disappointment over the indefinite delay.
What’s ahead for the film
Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan stars Vijay, Mamitha Baiju, Pooja Hegde, and Bobby Deol. Touted as Vijay’s final film before contesting Tamil Nadu elections with TVK, it now awaits the January 21 hearing. Even if the court favours producers, a fresh CBFC review could mean more waits; an appeal might prolong it further. The saga highlights ongoing certification woes for big Tamil releases.