No clearance for Vijay’s Jana Nayagan; Madras HC sets aside single bench order

Chennai: The Division Bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, on January 27 set aside the earlier single judge order that had asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a UA certificate for actor Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan.

With this ruling, the film does not yet have permission for theatrical release.

The verdict came on appeals filed by the CBFC challenging the January 9 order of a single judge, who had directed the board to grant certification after the producers complied with suggested cuts. The Division Bench had stayed that order on the same day and reserved its judgment after hearing arguments on January 20.

Jana Nayagan, directed by H Vinoth, is Vijay’s final film before he fully transitions into active politics ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The film was originally scheduled to release worldwide on January 9, coinciding with the Pongal festival, but was postponed due to the ongoing legal dispute.

The CBFC had referred the film to a revising committee following an internal complaint alleging objectionable content, despite the makers implementing the cuts suggested by the examining committee. The producers later approached the Supreme Court, but the apex court declined to intervene and asked them to seek relief from the Madras High Court.

With the Division Bench now setting aside the single bench order, the certification issue remains unresolved, and the release of Jana Nayagan stands delayed until further legal or regulatory clearance is granted.