Jana Nayagan Release Date Hearing LIVE Updates: No respite for Vijay’s final film as Madras HC reserves order, no date announced

Mentioning that a member of the board can file a grievance at a later point after watching a movie, ASG Sundaresan said that there was also a complaint that the Armed Forces were not shown properly in the film. Pointing out that certain protocols must be followed during the depiction of the Armed Forces, he stated that an exact analysis of this might not be possible for the committee alone and would therefore require the assistance of an expert. “Whether the complaint is proper is to be decided by the chairperson,” he stated.

Pointing out that all dates and records he presented are from the CBFC’s website, senior advocate Satish Parasaran emphasised that the member who raised an objection later was required to provide his opinion after viewing the movie. “Even his subsequent opinion, it has been taken care of already through incisions,” he added. When the ASG mentioned that the decision to send the movie to a revising committee was made on December 29 and that a communication regarding this was sent to the producer on January 5 via email, followed by its upload on the e-cinepraman website on January 6, Parasaran clarified that this was merely a communication and “not the order.”

Pointing out that the complaint has sought the deletion of those scenes which have already been excised, senior advocate Satish Parasaran, appearing for the movie’s makers, claimed that the CBFC now wants Team Jana Nayagan to reintroduce those already-deleted portions, submit the movie as it was before, and then expunge the same scenes again. He called the entire step an “empty exercise.”

When senior advocate Satish Parasaran pointed out that even the ASG would not contest that the case had to be heard that day itself, the CJ maintained that “it had to be heard because you created an urgency.” The lawyer further claimed that the members of the examining committee could never become the complainant as per the rules.

Pointing out that the board can send a movie to a revising committee even after tentative communication, the ASG said that the decision-making process is complete only when the certificate is granted. Even after the issuance of a certificate, the ASG said, “if there is any difference in the movie that is being shown or any other irregularity, it can be revoked.” He has concluded his arguments.

As he continued his arguments, ASG Sundaresan explained to the High Court the procedure for sending a movie to the revising committee. He further maintained that a film can be sent to a second revising committee if needed.

As senior advocate Satish Parasaran, appearing for KVN Productions, which has bankrolled Jana Nayagan, is set to begin arguing his case, all eyes are now on the Madras High Court as it aims to decide on the matter today itself.

Mentioning that the communication regarding sending the movie to a revising committee was uploaded on the e-cinepraman website, the ASG informed the High Court that this, too, was quashed in the earlier proceedings. He further took the court through the single judge’s observation that the CBFC chairperson’s decision was without jurisdiction. When the CJ pointed out that the single judge was trying to maintain that what is not sought can also be granted by the court, the ASG cited a Supreme Court case wherein it said the court cannot grant reliefs that have not been prayed for. While concluding his arguments, the ASG reiterated that he and the CBFC were not given time to file a counter, and the January 6 communication was not challenged.

The Madras High Court is currently hearing the Jana Nayagan case. During the proceedings, ASG Sundaresan, appearing for the CBFC, maintained that the producers of the movie should not have decided the release date beforehand. “In the present case, the producers decided to release the movie on a particular day and then argued that if more time is granted, they would suffer as they have invested Rs 500 crore. A reasonable time should have been given to me to respond based on facts and law,” he reportedly stated.

During the hearing, ASG Sundaresan pointed out that the examining committee’s decision to issue 14 cuts after watching the movie was only an interim one and not a final decision. Now, he said, the movie’s makers are demanding certification simply because they carried out the previously mandated 14 incisions, although the board had already issued an official communication stating that it had received a complaint. The board had also asked the regional office to put the proceedings on hold.

A division bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, is hearing the matter now. While Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan is appearing for CBFC, senior advocate Satish Parasaran is appearing for KVN Productions, which has bankrolled the movie.

Reacting to the delay in Jana Nayagan receiving CBFC certification, director-screenwriter R Ajay Gnanamuthu, known for helming Demonte Colony movies, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) a few weeks back, “Absolute misuse of power. Any film is not just about one person; it has hundreds and hundreds of people’s efforts, and money involved for a film to reach the screens. All strength to the team. It’s Thalapathy’s film and his farewell film and we will celebrate it like never before whenever it releases!! Thalaivan padam eppo release oh appo theatre Pakkam poren!!“

The makers of Jana Nayagan faced almost Rs 50 crore in losses after the Vijay-starrer was postponed at the last minute. As per reports, BookMyShow had to initiate the largest refund ever after the film was postponed two days before release. As per India Today, the overall losses amounted to Rs 50 crore. Ticket bookings for the film were opened in select Indian theatres and in the international market. The film had also received clearance from the UK certification body.

One of the most popular stars in the country at the moment, ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay’s biggest hit thus far is Leo, helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, which minted Rs 605.9 crore worldwide against a budget of Rs 250 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. It ranks as the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, behind director S Shankar’s Rajinikanth-starrer 2.0 (Rs 691 crore).

Amid the Jana Nayagan controversy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reportedly questioned Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and Tamil star ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay for over six hours on Monday, January 19, at its headquarters in New Delhi for the second time in connection with the Karur stampede case.

Although the movie was submitted to the CBFC for certification only on December 18, 2025, the makers of Jana Nayagan announced its release date several months earlier. On March 24, 2025, Team Jana Nayagan, including Vijay, unveiled a new poster for the movie and announced that the political action drama will hit the screens worldwide on January 9, 2026, as a Pongal release.

The Madras High Court is all set to resume hearing an appeal filed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), challenging a single judge’s order directing it to immediately grant a U/A 16+ certificate to director H Vinoth’s ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan. A bench of High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan will hear the appeal on Tuesday, January 20. The hearing is reportedly scheduled to begin at 11.30 am.

Even before Jana Nayagan found itself caught in the middle of a legal battle, the political action drama was embroiled in controversy after a section of ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay’s fans began targeting director Sudha Kongara and actor Sivakarthikeyan for planning to release their Parasakthi alongside Jana Nayagan. Although the simultaneous release of multiple films is pretty common during festival seasons such as Pongal, Vijay’s fans felt the release of Parasakthi would affect Jana Nayagan’s overall box-office performance, prompting them to launch a smear campaign against it.

Now, Sudha herself has stepped forward, condemning the prolonged denial of certification for Jana Nayagan. She also called herself the “biggest Vijay fan.” In conversation with India Today, she said, “I love Vijay, probably I am his biggest fan, and there is no two ways about it. Because I have met him and told him the same. We were at one point supposed to do a film together. That did not pan out due to various reasons.”

Sudha added, “Now all this that is happening, where his film was supposed to come with us… at the audio launch of Parasakthi, the first thing I said was that I will watch my film 200 times, but FDFS I will go watch Vijay’s film. I wanted the film to be released so badly. What happened to Jana Nayagan, where just two days before release, the censors held you back… it should not happen to any film. It was never our intention to compete with his film. How do you compete with the biggest star in the country? You cannot.”

Good morning, dear readers!

Although director H Vinoth’s Jana Nayagan has been making headlines since day one, it hasn’t been for the best of reasons for the past few weeks. Billed as ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay’s final film before his full-fledged political entry, the political action drama has been mired in controversies since early this month after it failed to receive a green signal from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on time, affecting its previously announced release date of January 9.

Now, the Madras High Court is set to resume hearings in the Jana Nayagan case, and all eyes are back on the film to see if it will finally receive legal relief, paving the way for its much-anticipated release. As the Supreme Court has asked the High Court to decide the case on Tuesday, January 20, itself, the makers of the movie and fans of the star are hopeful that the tide will turn in their favour today.

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates regarding the case hearing.