The eyes of the entire Tamil film industry and millions of viewers are glued to the Madras High Court today the court is at hand to make a landmark ruling on the censorship of Thalapathy Vijay’s much-scrutinised Jana Nayagan. The film, a high-octane political thriller, is currently facing a courtroom battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), for multiple "sensitive" sections of scenes and dialogues.
Where the Controversy Begins
The controversy stemmed from a CBFC member of the reviewing committee proposing over 15 major cuts, mainly directed towards dialogues that are said to reflect contemporary political developments in Tamil Nadu and the Centre. Some sequences, the board said, might be “provocative” or “misleading” to the public.
But those changes were opposed by the producers of Jana Nayagan as stifling creative freedom and a blow to the film’s core message. They sought permission with a ‘U/A’ certificate and minimal edits to the High Court.
Release Date in Jeopardy
It also matters how soon the final verdict is handed down. Jana Nayagan was due to be released globally this Friday. By late afternoon today, as the verdict in the case is predicted, the production house is racing short on time for a pivotal release:
If the verdict is in favor of the makers: The film must rapidly prepare to distribute digital keys (KDM) to theaters worldwide for them to show Friday morning.
Assuming the court sustains the cuts: The team will have to edit the film again and resubmit a process that would automatically push the release date back to at least a week.
The “Middle Path”: If a few tweaks are recommended by the court, the making team might accept them to ensure that the film reaches fans on time.
Fans on Edge
Since early morning today, a #JanaNayaganVerdict hashtag has been trending on social media. Vijay has been involved in politics in recent years with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which makes this film possibly more than just a film. Tamil Nadu theater owners have had hundreds of thousands of advance bookings for tickets already, but the windows of this movie are still closed until the court rules.
Distribution groups indicate that for exhibitors, a 24-hour delay could mean losses of crores. What the Legal Experts Say. Legal experts believe the judiciary will probably balance the “right to expression” against “public order.” Movie adaptations, such as Mersal and Sarkar (also starring Vijay), had previously come under scrutiny, but the judiciary tends to be in favor of upholding the filmmaker’s vision, until it runs into specific constitutional restrictions. As the judge steps into the bench today, the fate of the “People’s Leader” (Jana Nayagan) is the biggest headline in Kollywood.
