Why Vijay's Jana Nayagan Missed Its Pongal Release: Inside The Censorship Controversy
Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s much-awaited and final film Jana Nayagan continues to face turbulence as censorship-related legal hurdles delay its nationwide release.
Originally slated to hit theatres on January 9, the film is now caught in an ongoing legal battle involving the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), even as distributors in Kerala have announced a fresh release date.
According to trade analyst Ramesh Bala, the makers of Jana Nayagan have taken an aggressive legal step by hiring seven senior Supreme Court lawyers.
Vijay’s Jana Nayagan Release Postponed
The team is reportedly preparing to file an urgent petition challenging the Madras High Court bench’s stay order, ahead of the next hearing scheduled for January 21. This move underlines the seriousness with which the makers are pushing for an early resolution to clear the path for release.
Taking to Instagram, the producer Venkat K Narayana acknowledged that Jana Nayagan was postponed due to ongoing censor-related legal proceedings, stating that the team was left with no option but to wait for clarity from the court.
He assured fans that the makers are working tirelessly to resolve the issue and will announce a new release date as soon as the situation is legally cleared.
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Earlier, the Madras High Court had made strong observations in favour of the film.
The presiding judge termed the complaint against Jana Nayagan as “dangerous” and questioned how a film could be sent for re-examination based on the objection of a single censor board member.
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The court also noted that once a UA certificate is granted, the chairperson’s authority effectively comes to an end. Following these remarks, the High Court quashed the order for re-examination and directed the CBFC to issue the UA certificate without delay.
However, the controversy did not end there.
The CBFC chairperson has since filed an appeal against the single judge’s order, moving the matter to the Chief Justice’s bench. The bench has indicated that the appeal will be taken up after proper submission, keeping the pan-India release in a wait-and-watch mode.
Amid this uncertainty, there is some clarity on the release front. SSR Entertainment, the distributors of Jana Nayagan in Kerala, have officially confirmed that the film will release in the state on January 14.
The announcement, made via social media, has raised hopes among fans that releases in other regions may soon follow, depending on the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan stars Vijay alongside Pooja Hegde and Mamitha Baiju, with Bobby Deol playing the main antagonist.
