SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO HEAR 'JANA NAYAGAN' PRODUCER'S CBFC CERTIFICATION PLEA, DIRECTS MADRAS HIGH COURT TO DECIDE BY JANUARY 20:

On January 15, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a special leave petition filed by KVN Productions LLP, the producer of the Tamil film "Jana Nayagan" starring actor-politician Vijay, seeking immediate clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih dismissed the plea, observing that the Madras High Court’s Division Bench is already scheduled to hear the related appeal on January 20, 2026, and it would be appropriate for that court to decide the matter first. The Supreme Court expressed that there was no need for its intervention at this stage, especially since the CBFC Chairperson’s order dated January 6, referring the film to the Revising Committee, had not been directly challenged in the original writ petition before the High Court.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the producer, argued that it is an established industry practice to announce release dates before obtaining CBFC certification, noting that over 5,000 theatres had already been booked for the film’s Pongal release on January 9. He highlighted the perishable nature of films as commercial products and urged the Court to direct the High Court to decide the appeal expeditiously on January 20 itself, claiming that the CBFC’s actions appeared mala fide and had caused significant financial loss. The bench, however, pointed out that the Single Bench of the Madras High Court had disposed of the writ petition in an unusually swift manner, filing on January 6 and decision on January 7, while the matter was already listed before the Division Bench for January 20. The Court remarked that such brisk disposal would be welcome across all cases, but emphasized that parties retain the right to appeal, and the Division Bench should be allowed to examine the matter properly. The bench also noted that the writ petition had challenged only the CBFC’s January 5 communication, not the formal Chairperson’s order uploaded on January 6, and suggested that the petition ought to have been amended accordingly.

The Supreme Court further observed that the precedent relied upon by the Single Bench related to a service matter and was not applicable here. While the producer pressed that the CBFC’s reference to the Revising Committee stemmed from a complaint filed by a member of the Examining Committee who had earlier approved the film for U/A 16+ certification with minor edits, the Court declined to interfere, reiterating that the Division Bench was best placed to address these issues. In its order, the Supreme Court directed that the Division Bench of the Madras High Court may endeavour to decide the appeal on January 20, 2026.

The controversy surrounding "Jana Nayagan", touted as Vijay’s final film before his full transition to electoral politics with his party TVK began after the CBFC’s Chennai Regional Office initially agreed to certify the revised version submitted on December 24, 2025. However, following technical delays in final uploading and a complaint alleging that the film hurt religious sensibilities and portrayed the armed forces inappropriately, the Chairperson referred it to the Revising Committee on January 6. The Single Bench of the High Court, led by Justice PT Asha, had on January 9 directed immediate certification, criticizing the Chairperson’s suo motu reference and the volte-face by an Examining Committee member as undermining the sanctity of the certification process. The CBFC promptly appealed, leading to an interim stay by the Division Bench, which adjourned the matter to January 20 while questioning the producers’ pressure tactics and the announcement of a release date without final clearance.