Weeks after Madras High Court hearings failed to resolve certification issues, Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan remains stalled by CBFC disputes, inflicting a Rs 100 crore loss on Tamil Nadu theatres and threatening single-screen closures amid concerns over certification transparency.
The ongoing censor certificate battle for Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan, which began with CBFC delays scuttling its January 9 release, has now escalated into a Rs 100 crore financial hit for Tamil Nadu's theatre industry, per India Today. Despite Madras High Court interventions—including a stayed single-judge order and Supreme Court directives for resolution by January 20—the film remains under review by the revising committee, with CBFC officials staying silent.
Single-screen theatres, already battered by multiplex dominance, face existential threats from the disrupted box office. Political and legal uncertainties have halted multiple releases, pushing many venues toward closure. The saga underscores deep flaws in film certification processes, particularly for a film promoting religious harmony, as producers endure protracted litigation devastating the exhibition sector.