The CBFC says it cannot reveal anything about Jana Nayagan’s pending censor certificate, even as the film’s delayed release has reportedly cost Tamil Nadu theatres an estimated Rs 100 crore.
The long-anticipated Tamil film Jana Nayagan, starring Thalapathy Vijay, continues to face a stalled release and mounting uncertainty as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has declined to share any details about the certification process, deepening frustration among industry stakeholders and theatre owners.
CBFC tight-lipped amid Jana Nayagan certification controversy
The film’s release was originally scheduled for January 9, 2026, during the Pongal festive window but was postponed when the CBFC failed to grant a censor certificate in time. Amid growing speculation about the board’s next steps, D. Balamurali, the CBFC Chennai Regional Officer, said he could not comment on the matter, as per a report in The Hindu. “All our examination process is confidential. We cannot reveal anything until a certificate is issued. The law prohibits sharing of any such information,” he told the daily adding that the public would be informed once a decision is finalised.
The certification controversy has been fuelled by legal manoeuvring, with the
Madras High Court quashing a single judge’s order to clear the film for release and remanding the matter for fresh consideration, giving the board time to respond to concerns about the film’s content and review process.
Theatres reel as losses mount to over Rs. 100 crore
The ongoing delay has hit the Tamil cinema ecosystem hard. Theatre owners and trade analysts estimate that the indefinite postponement has led to losses of around Rs 100 crore for cinemas across Tamil Nadu, which had banked on strong box-office returns from Jana Nayagan. Industry figures said the
absence of the Vijay starrer during the crucial Pongal season, traditionally one of the most lucrative release windows, left screens under-utilised and smaller films unable to fill the gap.
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala noted that Jana Nayagan was expected to draw significant crowds and could easily have earned Rs. 150–200 crore in Tamil Nadu alone, as per a report in India Today. Its absence, he said, compounded a slow box-office period for regional cinema and disrupted release schedules for other films.
Ongoing legal battle and public anticipation
The film’s producers and the CBFC have been embroiled in a legal battle over whether the board can revisit and withhold certification after initially recommending approval, a dispute rooted in procedural questions and an internal complaint about the film’s portrayal of sensitive themes. The delay has drawn scrutiny from industry figures and political voices, though the board maintains that confidentiality rules prevent it from discussing ongoing examinations.
With no confirmed release date yet,
_Jana Nayagan_ remains in limbo, and fans, exhibitors and stakeholders alike are awaiting clarity on when, and how, one of Tamil cinema’s most talked-about films will finally reach audiences.
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