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The certification battle surrounding Thalapathy Vijay’s much-anticipated film Jana Nayagan has taken another turn, delivering a big setback to the makers
and potentially delaying the film’s release further. On Tuesday, Januaray 27, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court set aside an earlier order that had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant censor clearance to the Vijay-starrer. The ruling has sent the matter back for reconsideration, prolonging the legal uncertainty around a film that was expected to hit screens worldwide during Pongal.
Jana Nayagan release further delayed
As per Bar And Bench, A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Justice Arul Murugan allowed an appeal filed by the CBFC against the order passed by a single judge. The Bench observed that the single judge had erred by delving into the merits of the complaint raised against the film’s content. According to the Division Bench, such an examination was premature at that stage of the proceedings.
In its order, the Bench stated that the single judge should not have assessed the substance of the allegations. It set aside the impugned order. The Court has asked the production house to amend the prayer before writ court. As a result, the matter has now been remitted back to the single judge for fresh consideration, effectively putting the certification process on hold once again and bringing the matter back to where it started from.
Earlier developments in Jana Nayagan vs CBFC case
Jana Nayagan, touted as Vijay’s last film before his full-time foray into politics, was originally slated for a January 9 release to coincide with the Pongal festival. Just a day before release, the makers announced that it will be postponed, citing circumstances beyond their control. In an official statement, the team expressed regret over the delay and acknowledged the anticipation surrounding the film.
KVN Productions moved the apex court against a January 9 order by HC that put on hold a Single Judge Bench directive asking for the immediate issuance of a UA certificate, effectively stalling the film’s planned release. A few days later, on January 15, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a plea filed by the film’s producer challenging the Division Bench’s stay and the delay in the grant of the final censor certificate. The matter was heard on January 20 and today, the judgement was delivered.
With the Division Bench now setting aside the earlier relief, the fate of Jana Nayagan remains uncertain, and its theatrical release is likely to face further delays.
