The Madras High Court permitted KVN Production, the producers of actor Vijay’s Jana Nayagan to withdraw its writ petition filed by it, seeking directions to the censors board to issue the censor certificate for the movie. The production house had filed the petition on January 6, seeking the court to direct the central board of film certification (CBFC) to issue a U/A 16+ certificate for Jana Nayagan within 24 hours.
The Madras High Court Justice P.T. Asha dismissed the production house to withdraw the writ petition as Vijayan Subramanian, counsel for KVN Productions LLP, chose to withdraw it. Vijayan Subramanian filed a letter before the madras high court registry. In the letter KVN productions said that it had decided to accept the CBFC chairman’s reference to the revising committee for getting the censor certificate. The CBFC committee comprises nine members.
With KVN production choosing to withdraw the writ petition and deciding to approach the nine member CBFC revising committee has ensured that all the legal hurdles pending before Jana Nayagan stands withdrawn and that the only authority now to clear the hiccups is the CBFC. The revising panel will freshly consider and decide on whether a U/A 16+ or ‘A’ certificate will have to be issued for the film. And now if the revising committee clears the film, it will go the Examining Committee (EC) which had already issued U/A 16+ certificate. Though there is no confirmation on if the revising panel will clear the hurdles, sources told The Week that the movie is now being sent to the EC.
Planned for release on January 9, ahead of the Pongal festival holidays in Tamil Nadu, Jana Nayagan is expected to give the much needed political elevation for Vijay who will be facing his first general elections very soon. According to sources, the production house decided to approach the revising panel as the legal fight was not yielding any result and the movie was not likely to see the light of the day. The makers wanted to ensure that the movie hits the screens atleast a month before the election, so that it will give the required pep for Vijay and his Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam. Also, the business around the film including the satellite and the OTT, have received a huge beating due to the uncertainty in the release date. On the other side the production house also fears that the movie might not get released once if the election dates are announced in Tamil Nadu and if the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in place.
The producers had approached the Madras High Court on January 6, after the CBFC allegedly delayed the issuance of the censor certificate. The producers submitted in the court that the movie was sent for certification under the tatkal procedure on December 18, 2025, after incorporating the 27 cuts and modifications recommended by the examining committee. Despite making the changes, as directed by the board the movie, according to the makers, was withheld due to a complaint by a single member of the examining committee which reviewed the movie. Five members of the examining committee who watched the movie on December 19, 2025. On December 22, the producers were informed that the EC had suggested U/A 16 + certificate if the corrections are carried out as per the recommendations. The makers accepted it and made the required changes and submitted the film before the CBFC on December 24, 2025.
However, things went out of hands for the makers as one of the members of the examining committee sent a complaint to the CBFC chairman in Mumbai. In his complaint he is said to have mentioned about the absence of an expert in Army-related issues, as the movie has several scenes referring to the armed forces. Following this on December 29, the CBFC decided to put the process on hold and the censor certificate was not issued. On January 5, the CBFC chairman informed the makers that the board had decided to refer the movie to a nine- member revising committee for reconsideration.
And then the makers knocked the doors of the madras high court taking the legal route, on January 6, after CBFC chairman’s decision to refer the movie to the revising committee was uploaded in its e-cinepraman portal. After a detailed enquiry, the single judge bench of the madras high court asked the CBFC to issue the censor certificate. But the board went on an appeal and obtained an interim stay from the first bench comprising of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan.
When the makers approached the Supreme Court it refused to interfere with the interim order and asked the first division bench to take up the writ appeal. And then the appeal was sent back to the single judge. And now to clear all the legal hurdles the makers have decided to go back to the CBFC. While it is too early to speculate a release date, February 20 is an option for the makers.
