The theatrical release of Thalapathy Vijay’s final film, ‘Jana Nayagan’ — a highly anticipated final release — has hit a huge rut. Today, the Madras High Court reserved its final order on the film’s censor certification, stating that it will be pronounced on the morning of January 9 — the day the film's international release was to begin.
Technically, that means the January 9 release will be postponed across India because theaters cannot screen a film without a valid CBFC certificate. The delay has turned into a firestorm, as fans and political observers point to both Central and State government officials’ use of the delay to choke the actor as he embarks on a political journey with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The Legal Hurdle: What May Have Caused it to be Postponed?
The film dispute began with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) having abruptly sent the film to a Revising Committee on January 5, after recommending the film have a U/A 16+ certification following 27 cuts.
#JanaNayagan Movie has been Postponed.
— KERALA VIJAY FANS CLUB (@KVFC_Official) January 7, 2026
The Both Central and State government has done a Big Politics in this.
Justice will Previel Soon. @actorvijay pic.twitter.com/MvivWgygVy
The Anonymous Trigger
The CBFC alleged to have received a complaint — the later discovery also surfaced — from one of its own committee members, contending that the film had the effect of wounding sectarian sentiments and painting the Indian armed forces in a negative light.
Producer’s Position
KVN Productions claimed they had already met all requests for amendments by the board on December 24. They called the last-minute referral “arbitrary” and “legally flawed,” and questioned how a group decision could be overturned by a single member’s opinion.
Court's Observation
Justice P.T. Asha, although reserving the order, commented on "the rush" to release on 9th January. But that is no match for the 5,000 screens booked on a ₹500 crore project — if another hour of delay comes, then that will mean a colossal financial loss.
Big Politics: The allegations: Vendetta
The film is already being targeted as a political attack, its followers say, and Social media is already in full swing with a hashtag with #JanaNayaganBlocked. How the Film As Jana Nayagan is Vijay’s farewell to cinema, the emotional stakes are high. His supporters say the delay is a tactic to impede the momentum behind his political coming-of-age and keep his narrative from resonating with people when the lucrative Pongal season starts.
Central vs. State Participation Critics of its delay argue that while the CBFC (Central Government) is the one handling certification, the State Government has been accused of having “passive silence” or influence behind the scenes. In the lead-up to the 2026 Assembly elections Vijay’s TVK is considered a formidable third force standing up to both the Dravidian giants and the BJP.
Justice Will Triumph: The Next Step
Notwithstanding the blow, the mood in TVK cadres and Vijay fans remains defiant. "Justice will win," has become the motto here, representing the belief that eventually the court will agree Friday morning in support of creators. Whether the film hits screens later in the afternoon on Jan. 9 or only takes off to yet another level will all depend on the wordings used by the court.
