'Jana Nayagan' censor row: CBFC moves Supreme Court; Thalapathy Vijay's film release to be pushed further

The destiny of 'Jana Nayagan' Thalapathy Vijay seems cloudy with his next film release lined up to coincide with the Pongal festival in theaters, as the CBFC board has approached the Supreme Court once again for the same reason, and this is part of the eternal battle of censorship. The CBFC has already rejected them and wants the review. Therefore now the producers have moved to the Madras High Court to issue an instantaneous certification of the film. Initially, the single judge of the Madras High Court passed the order in favor of the producers and asked the CBFC to issue the certification. It turned out to be a temporary relief for the producers, as the certification board has come up with the plan to challenge the order of the single judge that barred the certification boards from issuing the certification once again.

CBFC moves Supreme Court in 'Jana Nayagan' censor row

The CBFC has also submitted a caveat petition to the Supreme Court so as not to pass any order in the matter without hearing the side of the certification board, as reported by News18. This comes on the heels of the Madras High Court’s Division Bench overturning the previous single-judge order and directing that the matter be sent back for a new hearing by the same judge and that both the production house and the certification board be given a fair chance to be heard. The caution evidently shows that the CBFC has anticipated an impending spike at the national scale in the event there are some appeals made to ensure they are safe from further litigation of the movie’s certification.

Madras High Court stresses due process over urgency

The current legal battle may also bear consequences for Chief Justice M.M. Srivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan; the division bench now held that more than “hasty orders” are needed, and a “substantial hearing” is very much needed, which would take time for both parties to present their side. Since the case is remanded for fresh consideration, a speedy order appears very much not possible, and 'Jana Nayagan' may not get any interim bail for the time being.

'Jana Nayagan' release now tied entirely to court outcomes

On the other hand, the movie’s team is reportedly talking to their lawyers about pulling back the High Court case, as well as other legal actions. While the CBFC has preemptively filed a caveat in the Supreme Court over the movie’s release, it has now become apparent that a certification issue has turned into a legal issue. And as both sides prepare to return to court, 'Jana Nayagan' is not racing to cinemas but racing to court with its fate now in the hands of the law instead of the filmmakers.

Disclaimer: This report is based on current judicial filings and reports from legal correspondents. As the matter is sub judice before the Supreme Court of India, all information regarding hearing dates and film certification is subject to change based on the court’s official orders. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a guarantee of the film's release date.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”