The Madras High Court is set to resume hearings on January 20 for the certification of Thalapathy Vijay's final film, Jana Nayagan, after delays caused by CBFC issues. The movie, directed by H Vinoth, was originally slated for release on January 9 but remains stalled due to legal disputes. Fans and makers hope for a favorable decision to allow its theatrical debut.
Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan, billed as his last film before entering politics full-time, has been entangled in certification controversies since early January. Directed by H Vinoth, the political action drama failed to secure timely approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), postponing its planned January 9 release.
On January 9, Justice PT Asha of the Madras High Court granted relief to the makers, directing the CBFC to issue a U/A 16+ certificate immediately. However, a division bench led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava stayed this order shortly after. The filmmakers then approached the Supreme Court, which declined to intervene and instructed the Madras High Court to resolve the matter by January 20.
As the hearing approaches, support has grown. Legendary cinematographer PC Sreeram criticized the delays on X, stating, "The might of the Indian state is fighting over one cinema. What a disgrace. #jananayagan." He later clarified, "My tweets about Jana Nayagan is not about one film, but the future misuse of government agencies in all aspects, which threatens democracy... This is the land of Mahatma Gandhi, not Donald Trump."
Meanwhile, the film has garnered over one million expressions of interest on BookMyShow, reflecting strong anticipation among audiences. The case highlights tensions between film certification processes and artistic expression in Indian cinema, with Vijay's fans eagerly awaiting a resolution that could pave the way for the movie's release.
