The much-anticipated release of actor Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan' has been thrown into uncertainty after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) referred it to a revising committee. The Madras High Court has now reserved its verdict on the matter, casting serious doubt on the movie's scheduled January 9 theatrical premiere.
Courtroom Battle Over Certification
During a hearing on Wednesday, Additional Solicitor-General of India A R L Sundaresan informed the Madras High Court that it was the CBFC, and not the Union government, which took the decision to send 'Jana Nayagan' for revision. He clarified that the CBFC chairperson exercised powers under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, after one member of the five-member examining committee raised a formal complaint.
The complaint alleged that certain objections were not considered before the committee initially recommended a 'UA 16+' certificate for the film. Following prolonged arguments from both sides, Justice P T Asha reserved her orders, indicating that a verdict could be delivered on January 9 itself.
Producer's Strenuous Objections
Representing the film's producer, senior advocate Satish Parasaran strongly opposed the CBFC's move. He argued that an excessive importance was being given to the objection of a single committee member, while the majority had decided in favor of granting the certificate.
Parasaran revealed 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 massive scale of the project, stating, "The producer invested ₹500 crore, and it cannot be dealt with so lightly."
Timeline of Events and Implications
The sequence of events has created a major hurdle for the film's release. The movie was submitted for certification on December 18. After the examining process, the producers were intimated only on January 5 that the film was being referred to another committee for review. This last-minute move prompted the producer to approach the court, alleging a deliberate delay.
With the court's order reserved and the verdict expected on the very day of the planned release, 'Jana Nayagan' is now highly unlikely to hit screens as scheduled on January 9. The situation leaves the film's future release date contingent on both the court's decision and the outcome of the CBFC's revising committee process.
