Jana Nayagan has finally cleared its biggest roadblock. The Madras High Court has ruled in favour of the makers of the Thalapathy Vijay-starrer. The court has directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately issue a U/A 16+ certificate.
This order clears the way for the film’s release. At the same time, the court strongly criticised the censor body. It called the CBFC’s handling of the issue a “dangerous trend”.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday by Justice PT Asha. The judge heard arguments from both sides before passing the order. The ruling has brought major relief to the team behind Jana Nayagan. The film was postponed at the last minute even after it had cleared the initial censor process.
The makers have not yet announced a new release date. However, reports suggest the film could be released in the next few days. Another option is a Pongal release on January 14.
According to Live Law, the Madras High Court on Friday, January 9, directed the CBFC to forthwith grant a U/A certificate to the Vijay-starrer. The film was originally set to release on January 9. Its release was stopped after a complaint claimed that some scenes hurt religious sentiments.
Jana Nayagan Censor Row: What The High Court Said
While delivering the verdict, Justice PT Asha made her stand very clear. She said the complaint had no strong basis. The judge observed, “After examining materials, it is crystal clear that the complainant’s grievance appears to be an afterthought.”
The court also issued a warning. It said that entertaining such late complaints could set a bad precedent. According to the court, this would encourage a “dangerous trend.” This becomes more serious when films have already gone through the required certification steps.
The producers explained the full timeline before the court. KVN Productions, represented by Venkata K. Narayana, stated that the CBFC’s regional office had sent a letter on December 22. The letter said the examining committee had recommended a U/A certificate.
The approval came with a few cuts and modifications. The makers complied with all the changes. The film was then resubmitted.
On December 29, the regional office confirmed that Jana Nayagan would receive a U/A certificate. However, the situation changed suddenly. On January 5, the producers received an email from the CBFC. It said the film would be sent to the revising committee under Rule 24 of the Cinematograph Certification Rules. This decision was based on the complaint.
This last-minute move forced the makers to approach the Madras High Court.
About This Thalapathy Vijay Starrer
Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan is a Tamil-language political action thriller set for release in 2026. The film is produced by KVN Productions. It is being promoted as Vijay’s final film before he fully enters politics.
Vijay is expected to focus on his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), after the film’s release. This has added more attention to the project.
The story follows a fearless police officer. He is guided by a senior mentor. Over time, he steps into politics to fight corruption from within the system. The cast includes Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol as the main antagonist and Mamitha Baiju. The music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander.
Jana Nayagan has become a political talking point in Tamil Nadu. Its censor battle comes just ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Many see the controversy as a proxy political clash between Vijay’s TVK and the ruling DMK.
The tension grew further due to a box-office clash. Jana Nayagan was supposed to compete with Parasakthi, which is distributed by DMK-linked Red Giant Movies.
