madras-hc-stays-censor-clearance-for-jana-nayagan

Thalapathy Vijay’s movie, 'Jana Nayagan', has encountered a major setback. On Tuesday, the Madras High Court reversed a previous order that had directed the Censor Board (CBFC) to give a clearance for the release of the movie. This latest development by the First Bench, headed by Chief Justice MM Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, has put the movie’s release date in jeopardy. The timing is particularly sensitive as the movie is expected to be Vijay's final onscreen appearance before he pivots entirely to his political career with his party, Tamizha Vettri Kazhagam.

 

The core of the dispute centers on how the CBFC handled the certification process. Earlier this month, a single judge had sided with the film’s producers, KVN Productions, quashing a CBFC notice that sought to push the film to a "revising committee" following a complaint from a board member. However, the High Court’s division bench noted that the single judge should have allowed the CBFC more time to file its formal response. More importantly, the bench pointed out that the film contains specific references to the Indian Army and various religious sentiments— content that the board argues could potentially disturb social harmony and therefore warrants a deeper review.

 

The history of the film’s censorship has been a bit of a back-and-forth. Back in late December 2025, an initial five-member committee had actually cleared the film for screening. That decision was abruptly put on hold just days later when the CBFC Chairperson intervened, citing an internal complaint. The producers fought this delay in court, winning a short-lived victory on January 9 when they were told the certificate should be issued immediately. That win was quickly frozen by a stay order, leading to today’s ruling which essentially resets the legal battle.

 

As it stands, the producers have been given the option to head back to the single judge to argue whether the referral to a revising committee was actually justified. For fans who were hoping for a grand Pongal release earlier this month, the wait continues. With “Jana Nayagan” bearing the burden of Vijay’s cinematic swan song, the stakes are high as the court balances the freedom of expression with the sensitivities involved in the depiction of the nation and religion.

 

Also read: Vijay calls TN 2026 polls a democratic battle