Sivakarthikeyan On Parasakthi Release Issues: ‘Films Should Get Certification Much Earlier’

Actor Sivakarthikeyan has addressed the industry’s continuous certification issues amid the intense scrutiny and last-minute turmoil surrounding Tamil cinema’s major Pongal releases. His film Parasakthi

finally obtained a censor certificate, just one day before its planned January 10 premiere, but actor Vijay’s Jana Nayagan is still facing board and legal obstacles.

Speaking to the media in Chennai, Sivakarthikeyan emphasised that filmmakers should submit their work for certification well in advance of release dates to prevent confusion and disturbance. During the holiday season, the actor expressed optimism that both films will find their proper audience.

Sivakarthikeyan on Certification Delays and Industry Lessons

Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi was caught in last-minute certification uncertainty. He noted that the censor certificate was still pending even on the eve of his film’s premiere, describing the developments as unsettling.

The actor stressed that the film industry should better foresee regulatory timeframes and urged colleagues to submit films for certification “much more in advance” in order to prevent such tension in the future.

“This was very unexpected. No one thought the film would get postponed. I wished for the audience to watch both films. There have been a lot of unexpected developments over the last 15 days, and we were learning new things every day,” Sivakarthikeyan said during the press conference.

“Maybe we should send films for certification much more in advance,” he said, considering the last-minute uncertainty caused by the Parasakthi certification delay.

Sivakarthikeyan had already referred to the box office battle with Jana Nayagan as an “Annan Thambi Pongal” and urged viewers to watch both films in honour of the festival.

Censor Board Finally Clears Parasakthi for Release

Following weeks of uncertainty and several required modifications, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) awarded Parasakthi a UA 16+ certificate on January 9, shortly before its scheduled January 10 premiere.

The film, which explores politically sensitive topics from Tamil Nadu’s history, had several cuts and adjustments before being approved. The CBFC initially suggested approximately 38 changes to the 162.43-minute film due to its portrayal of the anti-Hindi agitations of the 1960s in Tennessee, which caused delays.

According to industry insiders, director Sudha Kongara addressed the revision committee and said that the proposed changes would jeopardise the historical narrative of the movie. The board then approved the changes.

The certification has allowed bookings to open, offering relief to distributors and fans alike ahead of the festival weekend.

A fire that speaks to all ages 🔥#Parasakthi censored with a U/A – striking theatres worldwide from Tomorrow#ParasakthiFromPongal#ParasakthiFromJan10@siva_kartikeyan @Sudha_Kongara @iam_ravimohan @Atharvaamurali @gvprakash @DawnPicturesOff @redgiantmovies_ @Aakashbaskaran… pic.twitter.com/H4IPvMfUkw

— Red Giant Movies (@RedGiantMovies_) January 9, 2026

Legal Hurdles Continue for ‘Jana Nayagan’

Compared to Parasakthi’s clearance, Jana Nayagan — starring Vijay — remains embroiled in legal proceedings after certification issues led to a postponement of its opening. Conflicting rulings on the film’s eligibility for a U/A certificate have emerged from the Madras High Court’s consideration of petitions and comments from the CBFC and producers.

Jana Nayagan was supposed to open in cinemas on January 9. However, due to the CBFC’s tardiness in issuing the censor certificate, the creators had no choice but to delay the release.