The legal hurdle surrounding ‘Jana Nayagan’, Vijay’s much-awaited film slated for a January 9 theatrical release, continued on Monday (January 5) as the Madras High Court heard a plea filed by KVN Productions over the delay in the grant of a censor certificate. While detailed arguments were placed before the court, the matter was not concluded and has now been postponed to tomorrow (January 7) for further hearing, keeping the film’s release plans under a cloud for the moment.
Producers assert U/A eligibility, say only certificate issuance is pending
Appearing on behalf of the producers, counsel strongly asserted that ‘Jana Nayagan’ is fully eligible for a U/A certificate and that all objections raised by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had already been addressed. According to India Today, the court was informed that the film has been successfully certified in 25 countries worldwide, and that the only hurdle remains the non-issuance of the Indian censor certificate. Emphasising that there are no creative or legal shortcomings left to be rectified, the counsel maintained that the delay is purely administrative in nature. This has been submitted on the basis that the producers have adhered to all the cuts that have been suggested by the board and only a certification process was pending.
CBFC procedure questioned as court seeks formal complaint filing
The petitioner further argued that CBFC members had already viewed the film and were initially satisfied with it. However, the decision to reconsider certification was allegedly taken later based on inputs from a person who had not even watched the film. The counsel submitted that any such reconsideration must follow a prescribed procedure and be referred to a revising committee, as it effectively amounts to an appeal.Despite this, an order was passed by the CBFC chairperson on December 22, after which the producers were told they could approach the revising committee if dissatisfied.As per Sun News, the High Court has now directed that a complaint alleging hurt religious sentiments be formally filed, following which the matter will be examined further.
Court remarks on release date flexibility as verdict awaited
During the hearing, the court also questioned the urgency behind the January 9 release, with Justice B.D. Asha remarking whether the film could instead be released on January 10, noting philosophically that “when Thai is born, a way will be found.” With these observations, the court adjourned the case to tomorrow, leaving fans and the industry awaiting clarity on whether ‘Jana Nayagan’ will meet its planned release date.Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on reported news of court proceedings and legal claims. It does not constitute legal advice or a definitive statement on the outcome of the case. Readers should not rely solely on this information for making legal or commercial decisions.
