Madras High Court Delivers Setback to Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' Team in Legal Battle
The production team behind actor Vijay's upcoming film 'Jana Nayagan' faced another significant legal setback during Tuesday's hearing at the Madras High Court. The court cancelled an earlier judicial order that had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a U/A certificate for the controversial movie, further delaying its theatrical release.
Judicial Bench Cites Serious Content Issues in Film
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan presided over the case and identified multiple concerning elements within the film's content. The judges specifically noted scenes depicting foreign powers creating disturbances within the country and sequences that portrayed the armed forces in an unfavorable manner. These content concerns prompted the bench to remand the case back to the single judge for fresh consideration.
The judicial bench emphasized that the CBFC must be granted complete opportunity to file its official response before any certification decisions could be made. This procedural requirement represents a crucial development in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the film's certification process.
CBFC Challenges Previous Court Order
Additional Advocate General A R L Sundaresan, representing the CBFC, challenged the earlier court order during the proceedings. He argued that the certification board had not been permitted to file its counter-affidavit previously, stating "We told the single judge that the decision of the board dated January 5 was not challenged. We should have been permitted to file a counter."
Sundaresan further explained that despite these procedural objections, the single judge had proceeded to hear the matter on its substantive merits. He clarified that the CBFC's revising committee must reach a decision within twenty days, potentially allowing for a resolution by January 26 if no further legal obstacles emerge.
Production Team Presents Their Defense
Senior advocate Satish Parasaran, representing producer KVN Productions LLP, presented the filmmakers' perspective during the hearing. He revealed that the CBFC's regional office had initially expressed support for the film, creating confusion about the certification process.
Parasaran detailed the production team's compliance efforts, stating "The producers deleted the scenes that the board objected to, but they (board) wanted us to re-introduce the scenes and submit the movie and then delete the same scenes. It is an empty exercise." He further raised legal questions about procedural propriety, noting that a member of the examining committee cannot legally become a complainant in such certification matters.
Release Status Remains Uncertain
With the latest judicial development, the theatrical release of 'Jana Nayagan' remains indefinitely postponed. The film's production team must now await the single judge's reconsideration of the matter and the CBFC's formal response before any progress toward certification can occur.
This legal battle highlights the complex intersection of cinematic expression, regulatory oversight, and judicial review within India's film certification framework. The case continues to draw significant attention from both entertainment industry observers and legal experts monitoring censorship standards in Indian cinema.
