'No Release For Jana Nayagan': Madras High Court Holds Thalapathy Vijay's Movie Until Next Hearing

The Madras High Court on Friday stayed a single judge’s order that had asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant a UA certificate to Vijay Thalapathy’s Jana Nayagan. With the stay in place, the court has posted the case for further hearing on January 21, after the Pongal holidays. This has cast uncertainty over the film’s release, which was originally scheduled for January 9.

Jana Nayagan, believed to be Vijay’s last film before he enters full-time politics, has been facing certification issues in the run-up to its release. Earlier on Friday, a single judge had directed the Censor Board to issue a UA certificate after certain changes were made by the filmmakers and had also criticised the board for entertaining complaints against the film, calling it a 'dangerous trend'.

Soon after this order, the Censor Board approached the High Court seeking an urgent hearing and challenged the directive. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the film’s producers, while Additional Solicitor General A.R.L. Sundaresan represented the CBFC. The appeal led to the single judge’s order being put on hold.

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Arguing for the Censor Board, Sundaresan said the board was not given enough time to file a counter affidavit. He also pointed out that the producers had not challenged the CBFC Chairman’s decision to refer the film to a Revising Committee, yet that decision was set aside. The court will now examine these issues in detail when the case is heard later this month.