‘We Are Not Fighting...’: Jana Nayagan producer seeks early clearance as censor row delays release

Producer Venkat K Narayan says Jana Nayagan followed every CBFC rule, accepted all cuts, and only seeks timely certification after an internal complaint stalled the film days before its planned Pongal release.

Producer Venkat K Narayan, while speaking to someone about the certification delay surrounding Jana Nayagan, said the film’s team is not in conflict with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and is only requesting that the clearance be issued at the earliest.

According to the conversation, Narayan explained that the production house had strictly followed every rule laid down by the CBFC and had no role in the dispute that later emerged within the board. He stressed that the producers are entrepreneurs and businesspersons whose only objective is a smooth and timely release of the film.

During the interaction, Narayan reportedly walked through the entire certification timeline. He said the film was submitted for censor certification on December 18, 2025, and viewed by the Examining Committee on December 19. On December 22, the producers received an official email stating that Jana Nayagan would be granted a U/A 16+ certificate, subject to certain changes. Those changes were immediately made, and the revised version was resubmitted for final approval.

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However, he said the situation changed on the evening of January 5, when the producers received another communication informing them that the certificate was being held back due to a complaint. Narayan noted that the producers were neither informed about the complainant nor about the nature of the complaint at that stage.

It was only after approaching the Madras High Court for directions, Narayan reportedly said, that the producers learned the complaint had been filed by a CBFC board member to the CBFC Chairperson, questioning the Examining Committee’s process. He described the issue as an internal matter within the censor board, adding that the film’s team was not a party to it.

Jana Nayagan, a Tamil action-political drama starring Thalapathy Vijay and widely expected to be his final film before full-time politics, was scheduled for a January 9, 2026 release to coincide with Pongal. Due to the unresolved certification issue, the release was postponed beyond the festival window.

Also Read:Venkat K Narayana confirms Jana Nayagan release after HC clearance

The producers had moved the Madras High Court seeking certification. While a single-judge bench initially directed the CBFC to issue the certificate, that order was later stayed by a division bench, preventing the film’s release. The matter has now reached the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear the case on January 15, 2026. Further hearings are also expected before the Madras High Court around January 20 or 21.

During the conversation, Narayan reportedly expressed hope that the issue would be resolved smoothly. He reiterated that the team is not fighting the system or the board and is only seeking assistance to obtain the certificate so the film can be released peacefully and on time.