Madras High Court Sets Aside Certification Order for Vijay's Jana Nayagan
The Madras High Court has delivered a significant blow to the makers of director H Vinoth's political action drama Jana Nayagan, starring Thalapathy Vijay. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan set aside the January 9 single-judge order that directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant a U/A 16+ certificate to the film.
Court Directs Fresh Consideration by Single Judge
On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the division bench sent the matter back to single-judge Justice PT Asha for fresh consideration, leaving the release of the highly anticipated movie uncertain. The court pointed out that Justice Asha should have given the CBFC adequate time to file a counter affidavit before pronouncing the order in what appeared to be a hurried manner.
The division bench stated that the single judge is now at liberty to decide whether the CBFC's move to refer Jana Nayagan to the revising committee is correct or not. The court has also allowed KVN Productions LLP, the producer of the movie, to seek an early disposal of the case. Additionally, the bench has asked the makers to amend their prayer and challenge the certification board chairperson's order referring the movie to the revising committee.
Why Vijay Fans Are Concerned About the Delay
Since the court completed hearing all arguments in the appeal filed by the CBFC challenging the January 9 order on January 20, it delivered its verdict directly on Tuesday without further delay. While the makers and Vijay's fans were hopeful for relief, their expectations were dashed as the matter was directed back to Justice Asha for fresh consideration.
Amid the ongoing controversy, fans are worried whether the movie will receive a green signal from the court and subsequently the CBFC before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections is implemented. Once the poll code comes into force, Jana Nayagan might face further delays, as the movie reportedly carries several political references.
Nonetheless, since the division bench has asked the single judge to decide the matter expeditiously, and with polls not expected until April-May, the film may still receive court relief soon, potentially paving the way for its release.
KVN Productions' Financial Struggles Amid Release Delays
The inordinate delay in releasing Jana Nayagan has posed a major crisis for Venkat K Narayana's KVN Productions, which has invested heavily in the Vijay-starrer. During the hearing on January 20, senior counsel Satish Parasaran, representing the movie's makers, informed the division bench that the producer had spent Rs 500 crore on Jana Nayagan.
However, the court made it clear that the makers cannot seek relief by pointing out their investment in the project. The single judge ought to have given CBFC at least minimum time to file counter... The producer can't seek relief citing release date and Rs 500 crore investment, the court stated.
KVN Productions was hopeful of recouping the budget and reaping massive profits from Jana Nayagan before its next big-ticket movie, director Geetu Mohandas' Yash-led Toxic, is ready for release. Toxic is scheduled to hit screens on March 19, while Jana Nayagan was supposed to debut on January 9.
With the Vijay-starrer's release in limbo, KVN is likely to face a financially tight situation if the matter is not settled by the time promotions for Toxic must begin in full swing. The production company is also currently bankrolling the Kannada actioner KD: The Devil, starring Dhruva Sarja, Sanjay Dutt, and Shilpa Shetty in key roles.
Parasaran also disclosed that Amazon Prime has spoken about a possible lawsuit if the release date of Jana Nayagan remains uncertain, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
