The highly anticipated release of actor Vijay's mega-budget film Jana Nayagan has been thrown into uncertainty. The Madras High Court was informed on Wednesday that the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) itself referred the movie to its revision committee for a fresh review, a move that now makes its scheduled release on January 9 highly unlikely.
CBFC's Internal Objection Triggers Review
Presenting the board's stance, Additional Solicitor-General of India A R L Sundaresan clarified to Justice P T Asha that it was the CBFC's internal action, not a directive from the Union government. He explained that after a five-member committee screened the film, one member formally complained that his objections were not considered before the panel recommended a 'UA 16+' certificate.
In light of this complaint, the CBFC chairperson exercised powers under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 to send the film to a revising committee for another look. This procedural step has become the central point of legal contention, delaying the certification process.
Producer's Legal Challenge and High Stakes
Opposing the CBFC's move, senior advocate Satish Parasaran, representing the film's producer, argued vehemently in court. He questioned why the objection of a single member was given precedence over the majority decision of the committee that was in favor of granting the certificate.
Parasaran highlighted that the producers had already complied with the board's initial recommendations, making as many as 27 modifications to secure the 'UA 16+' rating. He emphasized the enormous financial scale of the project, stating, "The producer invested Rs 500 crore, and it cannot be dealt with so lightly." The film was originally submitted for certification on December 18.
Court Hearing and Impending Verdict
The producer approached the court after receiving an intimation from the CBFC on January 5 about the referral to another committee, alleging a deliberate delay. After hearing prolonged arguments from both sides, Justice P T Asha reserved her orders.
The judge indicated that the verdict could be delivered on January 9, which was the film's original release date. Given the circumstances and the timeline of the legal and certification process, the theatrical release on that date is now practically impossible. The court's decision on January 9 will determine the next steps for the film's journey to the audience.
