Censor certificate: Madras HC hands relief to Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan', says entertaining such complaints would fuel a 'dangerous trend'

The Central Board of Film Certification should grant a UA certificate to Tamil superstar Vijay's Jana Nayagan, the Madras High Court ordered on Friday. The HC found that it was "crystal clear" that the complainant's grievance was an afterthought and that entertaining such complaints would fuel a "dangerous trend".

Allowing the plea of KVN Productions, which has produced the film, seeking a direction to CBFC authorities to issue a censor certificate, Justice PT Asha said that once the board had decided to grant certificate, the Chairperson had no power to send the matter to the Review Committee.

Soon after the judgment was pronounced, Additional Solicitor General A R L Sundaresan made a mention before Chief Justice M M Shrivastava to permit the Censor Board to file an appeal against the single judge order. He requested the court take it up immediately, reported news agency PTI. The news agency added that in her order, Justice Asha said the censor board had decided to grant a censor certificate to the film and sent a communication to the producer on December 22, 2025.

Once the board had taken a decision and sent a communication, the Chairperson has no power to send the matter to the Review Committee based on a subsequent complaint by one of the panel members.

Therefore, the chairperson had exercised his power without jurisdiction, the judge reportedly added.

The judge said exercising powers under Article 226 of the Constitution, the court has powers to mould the relief sought by setting aside the letter dated January 6, by which the matter was referred to the Review Committee.

The judge said the argument of ASG Sundaresan that the petitioner can only challenge the letter dated January 6 and cannot file a petition seeking issuance of mandamus (direction), cannot be sustained.

KVN Productions on Wednesday expressed deep regret over the delay, acknowledging the massive wave of excitement and emotions surrounding the film.

"It is with a heavy heart that we share this update with our valued stakeholders and audiences. The release of Jana Nayagan, eagerly awaited on 9 January, has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control."

The Madras High Court had reserved its order on a petition seeking a direction to the CBFC to give a censor certificate under the 'UA 16+' category to Jana Nayagan, speculated to be the top star's final film.

On January 6, when the plea came up for hearing, Justice Asha orally asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to produce on Wednesday, a copy of the "complaint" that claimed the film "hurts religious sentiments."

The filmmakers had submitted that the movie had been referred for "review" after an initial recommendation for U/A certification. Directed by H Vinoth, the film 'Jananayagan' stars actors Vijay, Prakash Raj, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, among others. The film team, having completed all work, sent it for censorship on December 18.

Vijay, who heads the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) political party, has announced that he will contest the coming assembly polls in the state, due in March–April.