Vijay’s Jana Nayagan Censor Issue Reaches Madras High Court; Makers Say Film Is Fit for U/A Certificate

The certification delay surrounding Jana Nayagan, the upcoming film starring Vijay, came under judicial scrutiny as the Madras High Court heard a petition filed by the film’s producers seeking relief over the non-issuance of a censor certificate ahead of its scheduled release.

The petition was filed by KVN Productions, which approached the court after the Central Board of Film Certification did not issue the certification despite the makers complying with all directions communicated by the board. Jana Nayagan was originally planned for a theatrical release on January 9 across multiple languages.

During the hearing, counsel representing the production house informed the court that the film is fully suitable for a U/A certification. It was submitted that all cuts and modifications suggested by the certification authorities had already been carried out and no further objections remained unresolved. According to the producers, the only step pending was the formal administrative issuance of the censor certificate.

The counsel further stated that the film has already received certification clearance in 25 overseas territories, underscoring that the content had been accepted by multiple international certification bodies. In contrast, the Indian release has been stalled solely due to the absence of the CBFC certificate, despite the board’s members having already viewed the film.

Raising concerns over procedural fairness, the petitioner argued that after the initial screening, the certification process was reopened based on inputs from an individual who had not watched the film. The counsel told the court that any reconsideration of certification must follow a prescribed legal procedure, which involves referring the matter to a revising committee.

It was argued that revisiting a cleared certification without following this established process amounts to an appeal-like review, which cannot be undertaken arbitrarily. The producers contended that the decision taken on December 22 by the CBFC chairperson did not align with the standard certification framework. Subsequently, the regional office allegedly informed the makers that they could approach a revising committee if dissatisfied, despite the fact that all suggested edits had already been implemented.

Emphasising compliance, the producers told the court that repeated representations and reminders had been sent to the authorities requesting issuance of the certificate, but no response had been received so far. The delay, they argued, had disrupted release planning, promotions, and distribution logistics, particularly given the film’s planned simultaneous release in four languages.

The matter assumes significance due to the commercial and logistical implications of delayed certification, especially for a high-profile release featuring Vijay, whose films typically see extensive advance bookings and coordinated nationwide rollouts.

The Madras High Court heard the submissions and has taken the matter under consideration. No final direction was issued at the time of reporting, and the case remains pending before the court.