After Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi Faces Censor Clearance Delay: Report

After Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, another major Tamil release appears to be facing hurdles ahead of Pongal. Sivakarthikeyan-starrer Parasakthi has reportedly been held up due to delays in obtaining certification

from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). According to news agency PTI, the situation has sparked concern within the Tamil film industry over the censor clearance process, especially during the crucial festive release window.

Parasakthi was expected to follow Jana Nayagan in the Pongal lineup, with a release planned around January 9 or 10. However, citing industry sources, PTI reported that a big-budget production scheduled to open a day after Jana Nayagan had not received CBFC clearance as of Thursday evening. Neither the CBFC nor the makers of Parasakthi have issued an official statement regarding the film’s certification status so far.

The lack of clarity has led to growing speculation about a possible delay, particularly as the film is positioned as one of the key festive releases of the season.

Theatre bookings hit, distributor issues clarification

The uncertainty surrounding the film’s certification has already begun to affect theatre bookings across several centres. As per PTI, exhibitors have been hesitant to open advance bookings for the festival releases until CBFC approval is confirmed. As of Thursday evening, BookMyShow reportedly listed only three theatres selling tickets for Parasakthi in Chennai, all located in the city’s suburbs.

Amid reports of a potential delay, the film’s European distributor, 4Seasons Creations AS, sought to clear the air. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the distributor wrote, “#Parasakthi is very much on releasing on Jan 10th. Netherlands got cancelled because of movie going to screen Rotterdam film festival exclusively. Let’s celebrate this Pongal in a bigger way.”

Adding to the film’s buzz, the makers recently organised a two-day exhibition at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai as part of Parasakthi’s promotions. The event, which recreated sets from the film for public viewing, witnessed an overwhelming response and had to be extended for over a week due to popular demand.

Directed by Sudha Kongara, Parasakthi stars Sivakarthikeyan, Jayam Ravi and Sreeleela in lead roles. Set in the 1960s, the film explores themes of social realities and resistance. Produced by Dawn Pictures, the film was initially slated for a theatrical release on January 9.

The situation mirrors the recent developments around Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, whose release was postponed after facing last-minute hurdles related to certification and theatre availability. Jana Nayagan holds special significance as Vijay’s final film before fully transitioning into politics through his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Mounted as a large-scale political action drama, the film has attracted nationwide attention and is widely viewed as a prelude to the actor’s political journey.