As Thalapathy Vijay's upcoming film 'Jana Nayagan' faces delays with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), fans are vividly reminded of the massive controversy storm that surrounded the actor's 2017 blockbuster 'Mersal'. Directed by Atlee, the film encountered fierce objections from political parties, medical associations, and the censor board itself, making its journey to theatres remarkably turbulent.
The Triple-Role Film That Questioned The System
Released in 2017, 'Mersal' featured Vijay in a triple role and positioned itself as a social thriller. Its core narrative focused on rampant medical malpractices in India and critically examined the government's perceived inability to provide free and quality healthcare for all citizens. This central theme alone set the stage for conflict, but the film's commentary extended further.
The troubles began even before its release, with a title dispute. Producer A Rajendran of Film Factori approached the Madras High Court, claiming he had registered similar titles—'Merrasalaitan' and 'Naan Merrasalaitan'—with the Tamil Film Producers Council in 2015. The court initially restrained Thenandal Studios, the producers of 'Mersal', from using the title. However, it later vacated the order, finding no illegality in its use.
A Multi-Front Battle: CBFC, BJP, and Doctors
Like 'Jana Nayagan', 'Mersal' first clashed with the CBFC. The board initially denied certification because the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) had not granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The issue was the alleged use of animals in the film without proper permission. This hurdle was eventually cleared when the AWBI issued an NOC, noting that over 110 animals had been used in the production.
The political firestorm ignited when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly objected to the film's "incorrect references" to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Tamilisai Sounderrajan, the party's then state president, publicly criticized the film, asking celebrities to refrain from spreading wrong information. She questioned the filmmakers' understanding of GST economics and demanded the references be removed.
The criticism escalated with BJP national secretary H. Raja accusing Vijay of running a "hatred campaign" against the Narendra Modi government and making personal attacks referencing the actor's Christian faith. The film's satirical take on the Digital India initiative also drew flak from certain quarters.
Backlash from the Medical Community
The next wave of opposition came from medical professionals. The portrayal of doctors and government hospitals was deemed offensive. The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors' Association called the depictions "untrue and in bad taste". Meanwhile, the state unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) launched a social media campaign urging a boycott of the film by the medical community.
The controversy persisted even after release. A week later, a lawyer filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court seeking revocation of the film's censor certificate. The petition argued the movie portrayed the country poorly and propagated misleading information about both the healthcare sector and the GST.
While 'Jana Nayagan' currently contends primarily with the CBFC, the saga of 'Mersal' serves as a potent reminder of how a commercial Tamil film can become a flashpoint for broader political and social debates, facing resistance from multiple powerful institutions simultaneously.
