Jana Nayagan's Release Delay Results in Massive Financial Loss for Theatre Owners
The prolonged delay in the release of the highly anticipated Tamil film Jana Nayagan, starring superstar Vijay, has created a significant financial crisis for theatre owners across Tamil Nadu. According to industry estimates, the postponement has resulted in losses exceeding Rs 100 crore for cinema halls that were banking on the film's Pongal season release.
CBFC Maintains Silence on Certification Process
Amid growing uncertainty, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has refused to share any information regarding the film's certification status. When contacted about reports that production house KVN Productions had agreed to refer the film to a review committee, CBFC Chennai Regional Officer D. Balamurali stated that "the law does not permit disclosure of any information related to the certification process."
The official elaborated: "I don't have any information. Even if I do have, I cannot reveal it at this stage. All our examination process is confidential. We cannot reveal anything until a certificate is issued. The law prohibits sharing of any such information. Public will get to know only when the film is certified."
Pongal Season Opportunity Lost
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala explained the magnitude of the financial impact, noting that Jana Nayagan was massively anticipated as Vijay's last film before his political entry. "Pongal was supposed to witness the clash of Vijay's Jana Nayagan and Sivakarthikeyan's Parasakthi," Bala said. "However, the film's release was stalled. Vijay's film could easily have made Rs 150-200 crore in Tamil Nadu alone. Parasakthi made Rs 55 crore in Tamil Nadu."
He added: "Since there is no projected revenue, the Tamil Nadu box office could have lost almost Rs 100 crore because of Jana Nayagan's delay."
Industry-Wide Disruption
The delay has created ripple effects throughout the Tamil film industry. Chennai theatre owner Ruban Mathivanan of GK Cinemas revealed that the postponement has disrupted the release schedule of Tamil films for the next few months. With no clarity on when Jana Nayagan will finally hit theatres after the Madras High Court recently referred the matter to a single judge for another hearing, the uncertainty continues to plague the industry.
Vijay's Response to the Controversy
Vijay himself has addressed the ongoing censor row during an off-camera conversation with journalist Rahul Kanwal. According to Kanwal, the actor maintained remarkable calmness and clarity during their interaction, though he did express that he "feels bad" for his Jana Nayagan producer as the film remains unreleased.
The actor also indicated that he "expected" his films to face challenges due to his political presence, suggesting that the certification delay might be influenced by factors beyond typical procedural matters.
Legal Battles Continue
The film's release has been stalled despite three court cases related to the certification issue. The prolonged deadlock between the producers and the CBFC has created an unprecedented situation in Tamil cinema, where a major star's film remains in limbo while theatre owners count their mounting losses.
As the industry awaits resolution, the financial impact continues to grow, with theatre owners facing empty halls during what should have been one of the most profitable seasons of the year.
