The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on January 19 a plea by the makers of actor Vijay’s Tamil film Jana Nayagan, challenging an interim order of the Madras High Court that has stalled the grant of CBFC certification to the film.
According to the top court’s cause list, the matter is likely to be taken up on January 19. However, the bench to hear the case is yet to be assigned.
The petition was filed by KVN Productions LLP, the producers of Jana Nayagan, following a setback at the Madras High Court. On January 9, a division bench of the High Court stayed an earlier single-judge order that had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant censor clearance to the film immediately.
The division bench’s stay order effectively put a halt to the certification process, leaving the film’s release in uncertainty.
The legal tussle over Jana Nayagan has attracted significant attention, particularly due to the film’s perceived political overtones and its lead actor Vijay’s growing influence in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. The delay in certification has become a flashpoint between the filmmakers and the regulatory authorities, raising questions about freedom of expression and pre-release scrutiny.
With the Supreme Court now set to examine the matter, the film’s fate—and possibly its release timeline—will hinge on the apex court’s view of the High Court’s interim stay.
