Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ Release Delayed Again: Censor Case Adjourned to January 21 by Madras High Court!

The Madras High Court has adjourned the hearing on the censor certificate issue for actor Vijay‘s upcoming film Jana Nayagan to January 21, putting a temporary stay on the single judge’s order directing the CBFC to issue a U/A certificate immediately. This development further delays the film’s release, which was earlier planned around Pongal.

Key Events (Simplified Timeline)

• Morning: A single judge (Justice P.T. Asha) ordered the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a U/A certificate without delay and also quashed the board’s order sending the film for re-examination.
• Afternoon: The CBFC challenged this order before a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice M.M. Srivatsava. The bench heard the appeal filed by the censor board.
• CBFC Argument: The board submitted that the film makers only sought the certificate — but the court granted additional reliefs (like cancelling the re-examination order) without their side being heard properly. They also requested time to file a counter affidavit.
• Court’s Observations: The bench questioned why reasonable time was not given to the CBFC to respond and why the re-examination order was cancelled when the producers did not specifically challenge it. The Chief Justice remarked: “You announced a release date, does that mean everyone must act according to your wish? You should have waited patiently for the censor process instead of pressuring the court.”

Final Order

• The Division Bench stayed the single judge’s morning order.
• Issued notice to the film producers to file their reply.
• Adjourned the matter to January 21, 2026, for further hearing.

Current Status

With this adjournment, Jana Nayagan — directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions — will not release during Pongal (January 14–15). The film’s release, originally targeted for early January, now faces further uncertainty. The production team may consider approaching the Supreme Court or other options in the coming days.

Jana Nayagan is Vijay’s much-anticipated political action thriller and is billed as one of his final films before entering full-time politics. Fans continue to wait anxiously amid the ongoing legal battle.

Stay tuned for more updates!