Fresh Legal Twist Delays Jana Nayagan as High Court Reopens Censor Dispute

The release of Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay, has been pushed further into uncertainty following a fresh legal development. On Thursday, the Madras High Court set aside the earlier order that had cleared the film for release and sent the censor dispute back for a rehearing.

A Division Bench ruled that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was not given sufficient time to submit its counter affidavit. Terming this a procedural lapse, the Bench annulled the single-judge order and remanded the matter to a single-judge bench for fresh consideration.

While the court allowed the producers to amend their plea in the writ petition, the broader implication is clear: Jana Nayagan will not be arriving in cinemas anytime soon. The ruling effectively resets the certification process, adding to the film’s mounting delays.

The controversy stems from the CBFC’s earlier refusal to grant certification unless certain political dialogues and allegedly objectionable references were removed. Reports suggest the film contains indirect political allusions aimed at both the BJP and the DMK, triggering objections from the censor body.

Interest around Jana Nayagan extends well beyond cinema circles, as the film is widely viewed as Vijay’s final big-screen appearance before his full-scale political foray. The actor has already announced that his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), will contest all seats in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, expected in about three months, without entering into alliances.

Directed by H Vinoth, the film reportedly draws inspiration from the Telugu hit Bhagavanth Kesari. Vijay plays a former police officer, with Pooja Hegde as the female lead and Mamitha Baiju in a key daughter-like role.

With legal scrutiny intensifying and the censor battle far from resolved, Jana Nayagan remains stalled—casting fresh doubt over the timing and fate of what could be Vijay’s cinematic farewell before politics takes over.