The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has moved swiftly to challenge the court’s directive ordering the board to grant the film a U/A certificate, creating uncertainty about the movie’s theatrical debut.
Originally slated to hit cinemas on January 9, Jana Nayagan was abruptly postponed on January 7 after the makers failed to secure a censor certificate in time. The delay disappointed fans, especially as the film was expected to be a major Pongal release and is widely being promoted as Vijay’s final outing before his full-time entry into politics.
On Friday, Justice PT Asha of the Madras High Court ruled in favour of the film’s producers, directing the CBFC to issue a U/A certificate. The order came as a relief to the makers, who had argued that the certification process was being unnecessarily prolonged. However, the relief may be short-lived.
Soon after the judgment, the Additional Solicitor General representing the CBFC made an urgent mention before the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, seeking permission to file a writ appeal against the single-judge order.
The Chief Justice acknowledged the request and indicated that the appeal could be taken up either later on Friday or early next week. Until a final decision is made, the fate of Jana Nayagan’s release remains unclear.
The controversy surrounding the certification began after the film was screened for an examining committee on December 19.
Following this complaint, the CBFC chairperson decided to send the film to a revising committee, a move that significantly delayed the certification process. The producers challenged this decision in court, arguing that the referral was unjustified and had jeopardised the film’s planned release schedule.
