‘Jana Nayagan’ Case: Supreme Court Declines Producer’s Plea, Directs Madras High Court to Deliver Verdict

The Supreme Court, on the 15th of January 2026, refused to hear the petition of the producers of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan, which featured the actor Vijay, that was requesting a stay on the order of the Madras High Court, which had put the film’s certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on hold. A bench of Justices Deepankar Datta and A.G. Masih instructed the Madras High Court to hurry up and make a decision on the case by the 20th of January.

Dispute Over Censor Certification

The film was presented to CBFC on December 24, 2025, and after 27 cuts, the Examining Committee gave it a U/A 16+ recommendation, which the producers accepted. On January 5, the CBFC Chairperson sent it to the Revising Committee, indicating a complaint, which led to the postponement of certification for the intended release on January 9, which was during the Pongal festival. The producers then moved to the Madras High Court; the single judge Justice PT Asha allowed the certification on January 9, saying that the referral was improper.

Intervention of the High Court

CBFC immediately filed an appeal; the Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan put a hold on the single judge’s order, pointing out that there was not enough time for the Union of India’s response. This situation led the producers KVN Productions to submit an SLP in the Supreme Court, where they contended the necessity of Vijay’s final acting project before he became fully engaged in politics.

Actual Situation

No new information was provided till the 16th of January; the appeal from the Madras High Court was scheduled for the 20th of January. The issue is based on supposed content sensitivity that is compounded by Vijay’s political involvement with his Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party. Meanwhile, the fans are waiting for the resolution of the matter, with the tension very high, since the action thriller of the director H Vinoth is also among those awaited.