The much-anticipated Pongal release of actor Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan', directed by H. Vinoth and co-starring Pooja Hegde and Mamitha Baiju, has been thrown into uncertainty due to an unexpected legal tussle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Originally slated for a January 9 theatrical debut, the film's journey has been halted by certification delays, sparking intense speculation across the industry and among fans.
Kerala Distributor Confirms January 14 Release
Amid the chaos, a ray of clarity has emerged from Kerala. SSR Entertainment, the film's distributors for the state, has officially declared that 'Jana Nayagan' will hit theatres there on January 14. The announcement was made via a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), directly notifying fans of the new date. This move has solidified the release strategy for Kerala and raised hopes that a similar pan-India schedule might be announced soon.
Madras High Court's Strong Stance on Censor Issue
The core of the controversy lies with the CBFC. The production team had filed a formal complaint after certification delays derailed the original release plan. Although the film eventually received the necessary UA certificate, the situation escalated into a full-blown legal battle.
The Madras High Court recently heard the case and delivered strong observations in favour of the film. The presiding judge called the complaint against 'Jana Nayagan' "dangerous" and stated it should not be encouraged. The court questioned the logic of sending a film for re-examination based solely on the objection of a single board member, especially after a UA certificate had already been granted.
The judge noted that the chairperson's authority concludes once a certificate is issued. Consequently, the court quashed the order for re-examination and directed the CBFC to grant the UA certificate without any further delay.
Appeal Keeps Pan-India Date in Limbo
However, the legal drama is not over. The chairperson of the CBFC has filed an appeal against the single judge's order, moving the case to the Chief Justice's bench. The bench has indicated it will consider the appeal after formal submissions are made.
This appeal means the final pan-India release date remains in a wait-and-watch mode. Earlier, the film's legal advisers stated that a firm decision on the release would only be made after the legal process concludes. In this context, SSR Entertainment's confirmation for Kerala is seen as a significant and positive development, suggesting that 'Jana Nayagan' is inching closer to its eventual theatrical premiere nationwide.
Disclaimer: This report is based on ongoing judicial proceedings and official distributor statements. As the matter is sub judice before the Madras High Court, all dates and certification statuses are subject to the court's final ruling. This does not constitute legal advice or an official confirmation of the film's pan-India release.
