The much-anticipated Tamil film Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay and directed by H. Vinoth, has been caught in a legal and administrative tussle over its censor certificate, leaving its scheduled release in uncertainty. The makers moved the Madras High Court once again after appealing to the Supreme Court, and the court reserved order on the appeal filed by CBFC challenging an order of single judge directing it to give UA certificate for Jana Nayagan movie
Normally, a feature film must get clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) before it can be released in theatres. But Jana Nayagan’s certification process, which began in December 2025, has become unusually complicated.
What Happened With the Censor Board
The producers submitted Jana Nayagan to the CBFC on 18 December 2025. After a screening, the CBFC’s examining committee unanimously recommended a U/A (parental guidance) certificate on 22 December, subject to certain cuts and changes, which the filmmakers complied with.
By 29 December, the board’s regional office in Chennai verified those modifications and communicated that the certification would be granted. The producers believed the process was effectively complete, and assumed the film would be cleared for its planned Pongal festival release on 9 January 2026.
However, on 5 January, the
CBFC’s chairman referred the film back to a Revising Committee under the certification rules. This was reportedly triggered by a complaint about religious sentiments and portrayal of the armed forces, complaints that some in the industry say were raised after the examining committee had already made its recommendation.
Why the Court Is Involved
Unhappy with this reversal, the producers approached the Madras High Court in early January, arguing that once the examining committee had approved the film and the cuts were verified, the board should not be allowed to reopen the process. They also said that the complaint used to justify the Revising Committee review should have been disclosed earlier.
A single-judge bench initially ruled in favour of the producers, saying the chairman lacked jurisdiction to send the film for review after endorsing the committee’s decision. But the CBFC appealed, and the division bench of the
Madras High Court has now reserved its order after hearing arguments from both sides.
What This Means for the Release
Because
_Jana Nayagan_ does not yet have an official censor certificate, cinemas cannot legally screen it in India, and even advance ticket bookings have been paused in several cities.
The Supreme Court of India earlier refused to intervene, meaning the matter must be resolved by the High Court before the film can be cleared.
Why This Is Unusual
What has added to the controversy is that:
the film had already undergone cuts and compliance with the CBFC’s initial objections;
the referral to a Revising Committee came _after_ that process was complete;
and the producers say they were not given notice of the complaint prompting the review, which they argue is unfair under the rules.
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Industry observers say this delay has sparked broader debate over certification procedures in India and the need for clearer timelines, especially for big-budget films like Jana Nayagan, which reportedly had a planned release tied to a major festival.
What Happens Next
The Madras High Court has reserved its final order on the appeal by the CBFC. Once that decision is delivered, it should clarify whether the censor certificate must be issued, whether additional conditions may apply, or whether further legal steps are possible.
Until then, the fate of Jana Nayagan’s release, which was supposed to be Vijay’s last film before a full-time political entry, remains uncertain.
Jana Nayagan row summed up
1. Jana Nayagan has not yet received a final censor certificate, and as a result the film cannot be released in India yet. Advance ticket bookings have been paused in several major cities because of this.
2. The producers first submitted the film to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in December 2025, and a committee recommended a U/A-16 category with cuts and modifications that were made and resubmitted.
3. Despite that, the film was referred back for further review by the CBFC under a rule that allows review if new objections arise, reportedly related to religious sentiments and use of defence emblems.
4. The producers challenged the delay in the Madras High Court, and the High Court reserved its order after hearing arguments from both sides; no final judgement has been delivered yet.
5. The Supreme Court of India declined an earlier plea for immediate clearance and sent the matter back to the High Court for resolution.
6. The uncertainty over certification has led to the film’s originally planned release being postponed.
7. The CBFC maintains that the 14 proposed cuts are an intermediate step in the certification process, meaning no final certificate has been issued yet.
8. Overseas boards (e.g., UK’s BBFC) have cleared the film for their markets, but that does not impact the Indian certification requirement.
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