KVN Productions, makers of actor-politician Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan, have informed the Madras High Court of their intent to withdraw their petition against the CBFC. The move comes after the High Court had earlier set aside a single-judge order directing immediate certification, allowing the Revising Committee to proceed with its review.
KVN Productions, the makers of actor Vijay’s political drama Jana Nayagan, have decided to withdraw their legal battle against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), opting instead to await the Revising Committee’s decision, official sources confirmed.
The production house’s counsel, Vijayan Subramanian, submitted a letter to the Madras High Court Registry seeking permission to withdraw the petition. The matter is now listed for withdrawal before Justice P.T. Asha on February 10.
This development signals a strategic shift from the producers, who had earlier accused the CBFC of delaying the issuance of a censor certificate despite making the changes sought by the board.
On January 27, the First Bench of the High Court—comprising Chief Justice M. M. Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan—had overturned Justice Asha’s earlier direction to the CBFC to grant certification. The Bench observed that the single judge should have given the CBFC an opportunity to file a counter affidavit, particularly since the film included references touching upon the Army and religious sentiments, which warranted closer examination.
The Bench had, however, granted liberty to the producers to amend their plea and seek an expedited hearing before the single judge.
Justice Asha had initially allowed the film’s release on January 9, the date scheduled for its Pongal release, by directing the CBFC to issue the certificate forthwith. However, the appellate court’s intervention stalled the process.
Jana Nayagan is particularly significant for Vijay as it marks his final film before stepping fully into politics. He is set to contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in April as the leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a political outfit launched in 2024.
With the case now likely to be withdrawn, the film’s fate rests with the Revising Committee of the CBFC, which will examine the certification request afresh.
