What is the story about?
The certification controversy surrounding Thalapathy Vijay’s highly awaited film Jana Nayagan has taken a new twist, presenting a significant obstacle
for the producers and possibly pushing back the film’s release even more. On Tuesday, January 27, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court overturned a previous ruling that had instructed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to promptly issue censor approval for the Vijay-starrer. This decision has returned the issue for further review, extending the legal ambiguity surrounding a film that was anticipated to premiere globally during Pongal.
Jana Nayagan release further postponed
A Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Justice Arul Murugan granted an appeal from the CBFC against the ruling made by a single judge. The Bench noted that the single judge had made a mistake by examining the merits of the complaint regarding the film’s content. According to the Division Bench, such an analysis was premature at that point in the proceedings.
In its ruling, the Bench indicated that the single judge should not have evaluated the validity of the claims. It annulled the contested order. The Court has instructed the production company to revise the request before the writ court. Consequently, the issue has now been sent back to the single judge for renewed consideration, effectively pausing the certification process once more and returning the situation to its initial state.
Previous developments in the Jana Nayagan vs CBFC case
Jana Nayagan, regarded as Vijay’s final film before his full-time engagement in politics, was initially scheduled for a January 9 release to align with the Pongal festival. Just a day prior to the release, the makers announced a postponement, citing factors beyond their control. In an official statement, the team expressed their regret over the delay and recognized the excitement surrounding the film.
KVN Productions approached the apex court against a January 9 ruling by the HC that halted a Single Judge Bench directive requesting the immediate issuance of a UA certificate, effectively delaying the film’s intended release. A few days later, on January 15, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea from the film’s producer contesting the Division Bench’s stay and the postponement in granting the final censor certificate. The matter was reviewed on January 20, and today, the verdict was announced.
With the Division Bench now nullifying the previous relief, the future of Jana Nayagan remains unclear, and its theatrical release is likely to encounter additional delays.
