Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' Faces Fresh Legal Hurdle as Madras HC Reopens Censor Certification Battle
The much-anticipated release of actor-politician Vijay's film Jana Nayagan has hit another significant roadblock as the Madras High Court has reopened the certification battle, effectively sending the film back to square one in its legal journey.
Court Sets Aside Earlier Order, Demands Fresh Hearing
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan on Tuesday set aside a single judge's order that had directed the Central Board of Film Certification to grant a U/A certificate to the film. The bench ruled that principles of natural justice had not been followed in the earlier proceedings.
The court observed that the CBFC had not been given adequate opportunity to defend its decision before the single judge passed the order favoring the producers. The Division Bench directed that the case be heard afresh by the single judge after granting the censor board time to file its proper response.
Serious Allegations Prompt Court Intervention
The bench noted that the allegations raised in the complaint against the film were "of serious nature", which had prompted the CBFC chairperson to refer the movie to a revising committee. Given the seriousness of those objections, the court stated that the single judge should have afforded the board an opportunity to present its case properly.
The Division Bench further held that the earlier order had improperly gone into the merits of the dispute even though there had been no specific prayer challenging the chairperson's decision to send the film for review. The producers were consequently asked to amend their plea and properly contest that order.
Legal Tussle Delays Vijay's Final Film Before Political Transition
This ruling marks the latest development in a prolonged legal battle that has significantly delayed the release of Jana Nayagan, which is billed as Vijay's final film before he transitions into full-time politics. The producers had approached the High Court after the CBFC withheld certification despite earlier communication that a U/A certificate would be granted subject to certain cuts.
According to the production house, KVN Productions LLP, all 27 excisions and modifications recommended by the examining committee had been carried out. The producers argued that the subsequent referral to a revising committee—based on a complaint from one of the examining committee members—amounted to an unlawful reopening of a process that had effectively concluded.
CBFC's Position and Religious Sentiment Concerns
The CBFC, represented by Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, maintained that the complaint flagged legitimate concerns that certain scenes could potentially hurt religious sentiments and portray the armed forces improperly. These concerns justified the referral for further scrutiny according to the board's legal representatives.
Earlier this month, a single judge had ruled in favor of the producers and ordered immediate certification, describing the CBFC chairperson's action as beyond jurisdiction. However, that order was promptly stayed by the Division Bench, which criticized the "urgency" created around the scheduled release date and emphasized that the board must be given a fair chance to respond.
Uncertain Future for Film Release
With Tuesday's decision, the entire dispute returns to the single judge for a fresh hearing, leaving the film without certification and its release timeline completely uncertain. The producers have been given liberty to amend their Writ petition, but the path forward remains unclear as the legal process begins anew.
The case highlights the complex interplay between film certification processes, legal procedures, and the entertainment industry's commercial timelines. For Vijay's fans and the Tamil film industry, this development represents another disappointing delay for a project that has already faced multiple postponements due to this ongoing certification battle.
