The legal standoff between the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the makers of Thalapathy Vijay’s highly anticipated final film, Jana Nayagan, reached a critical juncture today. A division bench of the Madras High Court, led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan, officially reserved its verdict after a marathon three-hour hearing.
This case has become a national talking point, as the film is widely seen as Vijay’s cinematic swan song before his full-fledged entry into politics with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The Arguments: Minority vs. Majority
During the hearing, the courtroom saw an intense exchange of arguments.
The Producers' Stand: Senior Advocate Satish Parasaran, representing KVN Productions, argued that the CBFC’s Regional Office had already communicated a unanimous recommendation to grant a U/A certificate in late December. He contended that referring the film to a Revising Committee based on a single dissenting member's complaint was illegal. "A unanimous decision was taken; a minority complaint cannot govern the majority," Parasaran argued, noting that the makers had already deleted the scenes the complainant found objectionable.
The CBFC’s Stand: Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan, appearing for the CBFC, maintained that the board was never given adequate time to file a counter-affidavit. He also emphasized that the Cinematograph Rules empower the Chairperson to refer a film for review if they are not satisfied with the initial recommendation, especially when issues regarding the portrayal of armed forces and religious sentiments are raised.
The Road to the High Court
The controversy began when the film, originally scheduled for a January 9 Pongal release, was stalled at the eleventh hour. While a single-judge bench (Justice PT Asha) had previously slammed the CBFC for its "afterthought" objections and ordered the immediate issuance of a certificate, the CBFC successfully obtained a stay on that order from the division bench.
The Supreme Court had recently refused to intervene, instead directing the Madras High Court to hear and decide the matter definitively today, January 20.
What Happens Next?
By reserving the verdict, the court has indicated that it will likely deliver its final judgment in the coming days. The outcome will decide one of two things:
- Direct Release: The court could uphold the single-judge order, forcing the CBFC to issue the U/A certificate immediately, paving the way for a late-January release.
- Further Review: The court could allow the CBFC’s appeal, requiring the film to undergo the Revising Committee process, which could delay the release by several weeks or months.
For the millions of Thalapathy Vijay fans, the "People's Hero" is currently caught in a real-life script that is as tense as any of his movies. As the film industry watches closely, the final ruling will set a significant precedent for creative freedom and the powers of India's censorship body.
