Jana Nayagan Censor Issue Case: Here Is The Court Hearing Time

The Madras High Court will hear a plea today from the makers of actor-turned-politician Vijay's Jana Nayagan after the CBFC halted its release.

Last week, the Supreme Court refused to step into the ongoing legal battle over Vijay's film Jana Nayagan, leaving the matter to be resolved by the Madras High Court's Division Bench.

Court Hearing Time

The matter is likely to come up for hearing around 11.30 am today. If the makers get favourable verdict, the film might hit the screens soon.

KVN Productions LLP, the film's producer, had approached the apex court after the Division Bench stayed a Single Judge's order directing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to certify the film without delay.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the producers, argued that the film industry routinely announces release dates before certification is finalized, noting that over 5,000 theatres had already been booked for the movie's release.

The film, widely promoted as Vijay's final movie before fully entering politics with his newly launched party, TVK, was slated for a Pongal release on January 9. However, the CBFC Chairperson's January 6 decision to refer the film to a Revising Committee stalled the process, citing complaints about religious sensitivities and the depiction of the armed forces.

Justice Dipankar Datta, speaking for the Supreme Court bench, remarked on the unusually rapid pace of proceedings, observing that while swift disposal is welcome, it must apply uniformly across cases. He also pointed out a procedural gap: the Chairperson's January 6 referral order had not been directly challenged in the writ petition. Rohatgi countered that the producers had contested the January 5 communication, which was effectively the same order later uploaded.

Justice Datta maintained that the petition should have been amended to explicitly include the later order. Despite Rohatgi's plea that films are "perishable commodities" and his claim that the CBFC's actions were "mala fide," the bench declined to interfere. "We are not inclined to interfere," Justice Datta said, adding that the Division Bench "may endeavour to decide the appeal on January 20."

The dispute dates back to December 2025, when producers first sought CBFC certification. After edits, the Chennai Regional Office indicated approval on December 29, but technical glitches delayed the final upload. On January 5, the CBFC Chairperson referred the film to a Revising Committee under Rule 24, following a complaint from an Examining Committee member who had earlier cleared it. The order was uploaded the next day.

On January 9, Justice PT Asha of the Madras High Court ruled the referral unsustainable and directed immediate certification, criticizing the committee member's reversal. The CBFC appealed, and the Division Bench stayed the order, citing lack of opportunity for the Board to respond. The Bench, led by Chief Justice Shrivastava and Justice Murugan, has fixed January 20 for hearing.

For Vijay, Jana Nayagan represents a farewell to cinema; for producers, the delay carries significant financial risk.