Vijay’s Jana Nayagan: Censor Board revising committee to convene in Chennai on Tuesday

Chennai: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is set to convene its revising committee in Chennai on Tuesday to resolve the ongoing deadlock over actor Vijay’s highly anticipated film, Jana Nayagan. The high-level meeting will be chaired by renowned Kannada filmmaker and CBFC board member T S Nagabharana.

The meeting was originally scheduled for March 9 but had to be postponed at the eleventh hour after a committee member was reported unwell. This delay has only added to the suspense surrounding the film's theatrical debut, which has been stalled for several months due to a complex tug-of-war between the filmmakers and the censor board.

A contentious certification journey

The path to certification for Jana Nayagan has been riddled with hurdles. According to standard CBFC procedure, a film first undergoes review by an Examining Committee, followed by a revising committee if disputes arise.

In December 2025, the examining committee initially reviewed the film and proposed several modifications. While the producers claimed to have complied with these suggestions, the film’s planned release on January 9, 2026, was derailed. The situation escalated when a member of the Examining Committee took the unusual step of writing to CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi, raising fresh concerns over specific scenes and alleging that his original objections were not adequately addressed.

The final hurdle for ‘Thalapathy’s’ last film

The controversy reportedly centres on certain depictions that a board member claimed could potentially "hurt religious sentiments" and "inaccurately portray the armed forces”. These objections triggered the referral to the revising committee, effectively putting the film’s massive ₹500 crore pan-India rollout on ice.

With Tuesday’s meeting in Chennai, fans and industry stakeholders are hopeful that a final decision will be reached. If cleared, the film—widely regarded as Vijay’s final cinematic outing before he transitions into full-time politics—is expected to target a fresh release window, possibly in April or June 2026.