‘Jana Nayagan’ faces fresh trouble as CBFC files caveat in Supreme Court

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, anticipating that KVN Productions, the makers of Tamil film Jana Nayagan starring actor Vijay, may challenge the latest Madras High Court order and seek clearance for the movie’s release.

The move comes after a Division Bench of the Madras High Court on January 27 set aside an earlier ruling by a single judge that had directed the CBFC to grant the film a U/A certificate. The court said certain references to the Army and religious sentiments in the film require closer examination.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, held that the single judge should have given the CBFC time to file its counter-affidavit before issuing directions. It allowed the censor board’s appeal and restored the decision to refer the film to a revising committee.

The ruling has cast uncertainty over the release of Jana Nayagan, which was originally slated to hit theatres on January 9. The film is being widely seen as Vijay’s last before his full-time political entry as leader of the Tamiga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Earlier, a five-member examining committee had reportedly recommended certification for the film on December 22. However, following a complaint from one of its members, the CBFC chairperson put the clearance on hold and referred the film to the revising committee, a move that was communicated to the producers on January 5.

KVN Productions had challenged this decision, and on January 9, a single judge quashed the CBFC communication and ordered immediate certification. That order was stayed the same day by the First Bench, which has now formally overturned it.