The much-anticipated Pongal release of actor Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan' has been officially halted. The Madras High Court's first bench intervened on Friday, putting a stay on a lower court's order that had directed immediate certification for the film's theatrical release.
Court Reverses Single Judge's Order
The dramatic legal turn of events saw the first bench, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, act swiftly on an appeal filed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). This appeal came immediately after a single judge of the same court had ordered the CBFC to grant the censor certificate "forthwith."
The bench found fault with the earlier proceeding, stating that the CBFC was not given sufficient time to present its side in response to the plea from the film's producer, KVN Productions LLP. Furthermore, the court noted that the single judge had quashed the CBFC chairperson's order referring the film to a revising committee, even though this referral order was not formally challenged by the producer.
Bench Criticizes Producer's "Created Urgency"
The court expressed strong disapproval of the producer's actions, remarking that they were attempting to create artificial urgency and pressure the judicial system. The bench pointedly questioned the logic of announcing a release date before securing the mandatory certification.
"How can you go ahead with the release of the film without even getting a certificate on hand? You cannot fix a date for release and put pressure on the system," the bench observed. It added that it was not convinced by the producer's argument of extreme urgency, as it was an admitted fact that no certification had been granted.
Legal Arguments and Allegations
Representing the CBFC, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the single judge had granted a relief that was not even sought by the producer. He emphasized that the order referring the film to the revising committee was never challenged, yet it was quashed.
On the other side, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing KVN Productions, raised a startling allegation. He submitted that it was shocking that a member of the CBFC committee, which reviewed the film, later filed a complaint against granting it a certificate. To this, Tushar Mehta countered that only the committee members had seen the film, implying the complaint originated from an informed source.
What Happens Next?
After recording these submissions, the first bench passed an interim order staying the single judge's direction. The hearing has now been adjourned to January 20. This decision effectively dashes the hopes of the film's team and fans for a Pongal 2024 release, which was scheduled to begin on January 9.
The case highlights the critical importance of completing the statutory certification process well before a public release announcement. The court's firm stance indicates that commercial schedules cannot override legal procedures.
