In a significant legal twist, the release of the much-anticipated Tamil film Jana Nayagan, starring superstar Vijay, has been officially postponed. A division bench of the Madras High Court has issued a temporary stay on an earlier order that directed the censor board to grant the film its certificate, pushing the next hearing to January 21, 2026.
Court Halts Single Judge's Directive
The legal drama unfolded on Friday, January 9, 2026. Earlier in the day, a single judge bench of Justice PT Asha had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately issue a U/A certificate to the film, which is directed by H Vinoth. However, this decision was quickly challenged.
Representing the CBFC, Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan urgently mentioned the matter before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan. The ASG argued that the board was not given a proper opportunity to present its case or file a counter-affidavit. He informed the court that the film's application for certification was submitted only on December 18, 2025.
Chief Justice Criticizes Makers' Strategy
During the hearing, the court questioned the urgency that led to the single judge's swift order. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the film's producers KVN Productions, stated that the movie was scheduled for a January 9 release, justifying the need for immediate certification.
This reasoning was firmly countered by Chief Justice Shrivastava. He remarked that the film's makers should have secured the CBFC certificate before announcing a release date. "You are creating an urgency and putting pressure on the court. How can you go ahead with the release of the movie without even a certificate in hand?" the CJ observed. He further stated that the team could have waited for about 15 days and that there was no extreme urgency in the case.
What Happens Next?
The division bench, noting that the Union government was not given sufficient time to respond, decided to temporarily stay the single judge's order. This means the CBFC is not obligated to issue the certificate immediately. The court has now posted the matter for a detailed hearing on January 21, after the Pongal holidays.
The uncertainty casts a shadow over the release plans of Jana Nayagan, which is touted to be Vijay's final cinematic outing before he makes a full-fledged entry into politics. The film's trailer had already generated massive excitement among fans, making this legal hurdle a major talking point in the Tamil film industry and beyond.
The key takeaways from the hearing are:
- The Madras High Court division bench has stayed the order to grant Jana Nayagan a U/A certificate.
- The next hearing is scheduled for January 21, 2026.
- The Chief Justice criticized the producers for announcing a release date without a censor certificate.
- The film's release, originally planned for January 9, is now officially stalled.
