CBFC Moves Supreme Court With Caveat in Vijay’s Jana Nayagan Certification Row

The caveat seeks to ensure that no orders are passed by the Apex Court without hearing the censor board.

The development comes amid expectations that the film’s producer, KVN Productions, may approach the Supreme Court challenging a recent Madras High Court Division Bench order that stayed a single judge’s direction to grant the film a UA certificate.

On January 27, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court allowed the CBFC’s appeal and set aside the single judge’s order which had directed the board to certify the film. The Bench remanded the matter to the single judge for fresh consideration, observing that the CBFC had not been given adequate opportunity to present its case earlier.

Notably, on January 20, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan had reserved the judgment.

While setting aside the single judge’s order, the Division Bench had noted that the single judge had read out a complaint filed against the film by a member of the CBFC’s examining committee during the hearing. The Bench had held that the censor board ought to have been given sufficient time to place its stand on record before any direction to certify the film was issued. The High Court also pointed out that the producer had not specifically challenged the order passed by CBFC Chairperson Prasoon Joshi, and observed that such a challenge would be necessary before proceeding further. On these grounds, the matter was remanded to the single judge for reconsideration.

According to the producer, the CBFC’s examining committee viewed Jana Nayagan in December and orally informed the filmmakers that the film would be granted a UA 16+ certificate subject to 14 cuts. The producers claimed that they complied with all the suggested cuts but did not receive any formal communication from the board thereafter.

With the release date approaching, the producers moved the Madras High Court on January 5, alleging inaction by the CBFC. The censor board, however, contended that the certification process was stalled due to a complaint alleging that the film could hurt religious sentiments, necessitating further scrutiny by the board.

A single judge of the High Court, after hearing both sides, directed the CBFC to issue certification to the film. The CBFC challenged this order before a Division Bench and secured a stay. The producers then approached the Supreme Court, which declined to entertain the plea and asked them to pursue their remedy before the High Court.

Following a detailed hearing on January 20, the Madras High Court reserved its verdict and ultimately ruled in favour of the CBFC on January 27. Nearly three weeks and three rounds of litigation later, the certification stalemate continues.

Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan stars Vijay, Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde in lead roles. The film is reportedly an adaptation of Anil Ravipudi’s Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari and has drawn significant public attention due to its political undertones and Vijay’s imminent political foray with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).