‘Jana Nayagan’ censor trouble: Madras High Court to take a call on actor Vijay’s movie release

The suspense over the much-anticipated worldwide theatrical release of actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s supposedly last movie ‘Jana Nayagan’ on January 9, 2026 would now rest upon the decision to be taken by the Madras High Court on Wednesday (January 7) in a case filed by the production firm on Tuesday against the delay in issuance of censor certificate.

Justice P.T. Asha on Tuesday (January 6) asked Additional Solicitor General AR.L. Sundaresan, representing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), to submit in the court all records including a complaint received against the contents of the movie. The judge wanted the records to be placed before her on Wednesday since the movie was slated to be released on Friday.

The decision was taken after senior counsel Satish Parasaran, assisted by advocate Vijayan Subramanian, contended that the delay was causing irreparabale damage in terms of financial loss, mental stress as well as reputational harm to KVN Productions LLP. He said, the production house had invested nearly ₹500 crore and planned to release the movie in 5,000 screens.

It was brought to the notice of the court that the entire post production work of the movie was completed on December 15, 2025 and it was submitted to CBFC on December 18. Thereafter, the CBFC’s examining committee recommended grant of U/A 16+ certificate subject to certain excisions and modifications. The producers accepted it and carried out all modifications.

The modified version was submitted to the board on December 24. Despite such prompt and complete compliance of the recommendations made by the production house, the CBFC did not respond for nearly 10 days, Mr. Parasaran said and claimed that his client had sent multiple reminders too highlighting the fact that the movie was scheduled to be released on January 9, 2026.

On January 5, the petitioner was shocked to receive a communication from the Chennai Regional Officer of CBFC stating that it had been decided to refer the movie to the revising committee (an appellate body). The only reason given for such a decision was the receipt of a complaint regarding scenes that hurt religious sentiments and the portrayal of armed forces, the senior counsel said.

Stating that the production firm had not been informed of the details of the individual who had lodged the complaint, Mr. Parasaran said, no one but for the technicians involved in the production and the members of examining committee had watched the movie so far and hence there was no chance of an outsider having gained any kind of knowledge about its contents.

“The January 5, 2026 communication does not disclose the identity of the complainant, the nature or particulars of the complaint or any supporting material. The reopening of the certification process on undisclosed and vague grounds, after recommendation of certification, is arbitrary and not in accordance with law,” the senior counsel argued and insisted on issuance of U/A 16+ certification for Jana Nayagan.

He also said, “entertaining such anonymous, undisclosed and unverifiable complaints, particularly at a stage when the film has not been viewed by the public and the certification process has otherwise reached finality, would set a dangerous precedent and open the floodgates for frivolous and motivated objections to be raised in respect of every film prior to certification.”