The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a plea filed by the producers of Tamil actor Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan, challenging a Madras High Court order that had stalled the film’s censor clearance. The top court instead directed the petitioners to approach the division bench of the high court for appropriate relief.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih expressed concern over the pace of proceedings in the Madras High Court and asked the producers to seek redress before the high court division bench, which is already seized of the matter.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing on behalf of the producers KVN Productions LLP, argued that Jana Nayagan is a “perishable commodity” and that delay in its release would cause “serious injury” to the filmmakers. In response, the apex court directed the Madras High Court to decide the matter expeditiously and preferably by January 20.
On January 9, a single-judge bench of the Madras High Court had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan. However, a division bench stayed this directive shortly thereafter, leaving the film’s release in uncertainty.
KVN Productions challenged the stay order, seeking intervention from the Supreme Court. The film was originally slated for release during the Pongal festival on January 9, but was stalled due to the lack of CBFC certification.
Jana Nayagan has drawn significant public attention not only for its content but also because it is widely seen as actor Vijay’s final film before fully transitioning into politics. Vijay recently launched his political outfit Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and the film is speculated to carry political undertones aligning with his public image.
The delay in certification sparked allegations and debates over whether the regulatory process is being misused for political ends, though the court proceedings thus far have remained confined to procedural and legal grounds.
With the Supreme Court’s direction, the matter will now return to the Madras High Court for urgent adjudication, as the producers continue to push for a release window amidst a politically charged atmosphere.
