Jana Nayagan Release Date Hearing: Madras High Court Takes Up Case After Long Wait
The Madras High Court hearing related to the release of Vijay’s much-awaited film Jana Nayagan turned into a long and tense wait on January 20, with the case finally being taken up after several hours.
The matter, listed as Item 17, was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan.
The court proceedings began in the morning, but it was clear early on that the Jana Nayagan case would not be taken up quickly.
Several other matters were listed ahead of it, and the bench proceeded strictly according to the cause list. Items 2 through 6 were heard first, followed by Items 12, 13 and 14, adding to the delay.
“How Do You Compete With Someone Of His Stature?” Sudha Kongara Reacts To Jana Nayagan Delay
The major holdup occurred when Items 15 and 16 were taken up. These cases, including a contempt petition related to the construction of the Kallakurichi bus stand, involved lengthy arguments by Senior Counsel E. Om Prakash. As a result, the hearing stretched on, keeping the Jana Nayagan case pending for much of the day.
Fans of Vijay closely tracked every update, repeatedly refreshing live feeds and court reports.
The tension was especially high because the Supreme Court had earlier declined to entertain an appeal in the matter and had directed the Madras High Court to deliver a verdict on January 20 itself, making the day crucial for the film’s fate.
Once Item 16 concluded, the court finally took up Item 17 — the Jana Nayagan case.
Why Vijay’s Jana Nayagan Missed Its Pongal Release: Inside The Censorship Controversy
The Chief Justice began by reading out the Supreme Court’s order. Soon after, Additional Solicitor General A.R.L. Sundaresan commenced arguments on behalf of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). He informed the bench that he would need around 30 minutes to present his submissions, a request that was accepted.
During the hearing, the ASG stated that when the producers filed their writ petition on January 5, they were already aware that the CBFC chairperson had decided to refer the film to the revising committee.
He argued that despite knowing this, the producers did not challenge that decision and instead sought a direct order for a U/A 16+ certificate.
The case has drawn massive attention due to Jana Nayagan’s significance in Vijay’s career.
The film has been promoted as his final movie before entering full-time politics. Directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, the film features a star-studded cast including Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Priyamani, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prakash Raj.
Originally slated for a Pongal 2026 release, Jana Nayagan had already broken records with advance bookings reportedly touching nearly Rs 40 crore for its opening day and around Rs 100 crore globally before legal trouble stalled its release.
The delay has also put its reported Rs 121 crore OTT deal in uncertainty due to the mandatory theatrical window.
