Vijay's Jana Nayagan Release Delayed Again as Madras HC Sets Aside Certification Order

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The Madras High Court has dealt a fresh blow to Vijay's highly-anticipated Tamil film Jana Nayagan, setting aside a single-bench order that granted the film a UA16+ certification. The decision has further delayed the film's theatrical release, which was initially set for Pongal in January. A division bench of Chief Justice MM Shrivastava and Justice Arul Murugan ruled that the single bench erred in directing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant the certification without giving the board sufficient time to respond. The CBFC had argued that it was not given a fair opportunity to be heard before the single bench made its decision. The controversy surrounding Jana Nayagan began when the CBFC referred the film to a Revising Committee days before its planned release, citing a complaint about the film's portrayal of religious sentiments and the armed forces. The producers of the film, KVN Productions, had alleged that the move derailed a certification process that was nearing completion. The CBFC had challenged the single bench's order, arguing that its chairperson acted within statutory powers in referring the film for further review after receiving a complaint. The board maintained that it had not taken a final certification decision and was given no time to respond to the single bench's order. The division bench has now ordered the single bench to hear the matter afresh, giving the CBFC an opportunity to file a counter-affidavit and present its case. The decision is a setback for the film's producers, who had been planning a Pongal release for the film. The new release date for Jana Nayagan remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the fresh hearing.