What is the story about?
Jana Nayagan Release Update: The legal tussle surrounding Vijay's much awaited Tamil film Jana Nayagan reached a decisive turning point on Friday, January
9, after the Madras High Court stepped in and cleared the decks for its release. In a strong order, the court directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant the film a U/A certificate, bringing relief to the makers after days of uncertainty. The film, which was earlier expected to hit theatres today, had its release put on hold following last minute certification hurdles. The verdict has now restored momentum to the project, which is also being seen as Vijay's final on screen outing before his full time political plunge.
Madras High Court Comes Down Heavily On Certification Delay
Justice P T Asha, while pronouncing the order, made it clear that the reopening of the certification process was unjustified. Observing that the complaint raised against the film lacked substance, the judge said, “After examining materials, it is crystal clear that the complainant's grievance appears to be an after thought”. The court cautioned that allowing such complaints at an advanced stage could set a “dangerous trend” and disrupt the entire certification framework.
The court also took exception to a letter issued by the CBFC chairperson on January 6, stating that it was without legal authority. It noted that once the Examining Committee had recommended a U/A certificate and the filmmakers complied with the suggested cuts, the process should have ended there. The order stated, “Exercise of power by the chairperson is without jurisdiction since the power of chairperson to send for review stood abdicated after he, on behalf of committee informed that UA certificate would be granted subject to incisions.”
Using its inherent powers, the High Court set aside the chairperson’s decision to refer the film to a Revising Committee and allowed the petition filed by the producers. The CBFC was directed to issue the U/A certificate forthwith, effectively clearing the last major obstacle before release.
Producers Argue Financial Risk As CBFC Defends Review Power
Jana Nayagan is produced by KVN Productions, headed by Venkata K Narayana, who approached the court alleging that the certification was being unfairly delayed. The production house told the court that it had received confirmation on December 22 that the Examining Committee had approved the film for a U/A certificate with minor modifications.
After carrying out the required changes, the makers were informed on December 29 that the certificate would be issued. However, on January 5, the regional office reportedly sent an email stating that the film was being referred to the Revising Committee following a complaint claiming the film hurt religious sentiments and misrepresented the armed forces. The producers argued that reopening the process at this stage was against the law and could cause massive financial losses.
Defending its position, the CBFC maintained that the chairperson had the authority to differ from the Examining Committee and order a review if objections were raised, even by a single member. This argument was firmly rejected by the producers, who said that a committee member could not turn into a complainant and override a majority decision.
With the High Court's clear directive now in place, Jana Nayagan is expected to receive its U/A certificate without further delay, paving the way for its theatrical release and closing a controversial chapter ahead of what many believe will be Vijay’s final film as an actor.
