Jana Nayagan certification Madras HC posts plea to Jan 7

Chennai, Jan 6 (PTI) The Madras High Court on Tuesday posted to January 7 further hearing of a plea by the makers of TVK chief Vijay starrer "Jana Nayagan" seeking a direction to CBFC to issue a censor certificate for that movie so that it could be released on January 9.



When the plea came up for hearing, Justice P T Asha orally asked the Central Board of Film Certification to produce on Wednesday a copy of the "complaint" received by it claiming that 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. Even though a release date has been fixed for the film, it can only proceed legally, the Central Censor Board submitted in the court.
    Directed by H Vinoth, the film 'Jananayagan' stars actors Vijay, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, among others.
    The film production company had announced that the film is scheduled for release in theatres on January 9, coinciding with the Pongal festival.
    In this situation, a censor certificate has not been issued for 'Jananayagan' so far. The film team, having completed all work for the film, sent it for censorship on the 18th of last month.
    Subsequently, on December 19, the censor board that viewed the film reportedly advised the removal of some scenes and muting of some dialogues.
    Even after the production company made the changes suggested by the censor board members and resubmitted it, the censor certificate has still not been issued.
    With only two days left for the film's release and the censor certificate not being received, K V N Productions, the film production company, filed a petition in the High Court, and the petition was heard by Justice P T Asha.
    During the hearing, counsels representing the film production company stated that this film, made with an investment of around Rs 500 crore, was submitted to the Censor Board last December.
    After the Censor Board wanted the removal of certain scenes, such scenes were removed.
    Later, the Censor Board recommended that the film is eligible for a U/A certificate. However, subsequently, stating that there is a scene that hurts religious sentiments, it has been sent for review to the Revising Committee.
    They argued that since no one has seen the film, it's unclear how such a complaint was made, and therefore, an order should be issued to grant the certificate.
    Since there are only a few days left, there is no need to send it to the revising committee, and the relevant files should be reviewed and an appropriate decision made, and a certificate should be issued to screen the film in three languages.
    Appearing for the Censor Board, Additional Solicitor General A R L Sundaresan, stated that the Censor Revising Committee has the authority to take action on the complaint. He said that they cannot be compelled to issue a certificate within a specific timeframe.
    After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge ordered the Censor Board to submit the complaint made against the film by tomorrow.
    Following this, the judge asked the film production company's side, "Why can't the film be postponed to the 10th? Will a solution not emerge if we wait?"
    In response, it was conveyed on behalf of the film production company that the film's release date has already been announced and changing the date would cause a huge loss. Subsequently, the judge adjourned the hearing to January 7.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)