The route to the silver screen for Thalapathy Vijay’s supposedly swansong, ‘Jana Nayagan,’ has never been more rocky. The film was originally planned for a world-wide release, likely Jan. 9, 2026, before being put into limbo. And the release remains in limbo after the Madras High Court ruled positive this week, a fresh stay order forcing the release into chaos and throwing millions of fans into despair.
Timeline of the Censorship Battle
The controversy began in late December 2025. According to Venkat K. Narayana, owner of KVN Productions, the film was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on December 18.
- Initial Agreement: The CBFC reported in an email from December 22 that, as long as the creators agreed with 27 specific cuts/modifications, the film would receive a ‘U/A’ certificate.
- The Compliance: The production team complied straightaway and republished the revised version the same day.
- The Hurdle: The film was referred to a Review Committee by the CBFC Chairperson later, after the agreement. The decision was said to have been taken in response to a complaint made by a single member of the examining committee, who contends (he said in passing) that their objections (in particular his or her own of the portrayal of the armed forces) were not taken into account by the majority of the committee.
The High Court Seesaw
Confronted with the impending release date and a high potential investment of large sums of cash (worth an estimated ₹380-500 crore to do so) KVN Productions approached Madras High Court.
— KVN Productions (@KvnProductions) January 9, 2026
The Victory (Jan 9, Morning)
Justice PT Asha ruled in favor of the producers, saying that if the board had delivered its decision to issue a 'U/A' certificate contingent on cuts, the Chairperson had no jurisdiction to refer to a review committee. The court instructed that a 'U/A 16+' certificate be provided immediately.
The Setback (Jan 9, Afternoon)
A few hours later, the CBFC appealed writ request urgently. A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan pronounced a stay order on the directive of the one judge. The bench stated that the CBFC would have been afforded adequate time to file a counter-affidavit.
Producer’s Emotional Plea
Venkat K. Narayana made an emotional statement late on January 9, to the fans and stakeholders. The ruling elite, he said, only wanted to express a “legendary farewell” to Vijay, who is preparing to become a full-time political operative in his party, Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
“This stage is incredibly challenging and emotional for us,” Venkat said. “We trusted the judiciary wholeheartedly. We are working without breaks trying to get the film out into the world of the people. We ask to convey to distributors, exhibitors and fans for your patience and understanding at this time.”
What’s Next?
(Some reports say January 27; Madras has the case to January 21, 2026) It also means the movie will surely miss the lucrative Pongal festival window, with anticipated losses of more than ₹50 crore in advance bookings alone. Still fighting the fight, the release of Jana Nayagan is the biggest talking point in Indian cinema.
