The release of Thalapathy Vijay’s farewell film, ‘Jana Nayagan,’ which was originally slated to premiere on January 9, 2026 across the globe — a stunning event for Tamil cinema — is now postponed in India. During the trial today, the Madras High Court reserved its judgment on the film’s censor certification, holding that the final order will most likely be pronounced on the morning of January 9.
Given that the order will only be made available as the film’s scheduled day, Friday's chance of a theatrical release has been eliminated — thousands of theaters and millions of people have been left in limbo.
Why Is The Order Reserved Until January 9?
On January 7, KVN Productions and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had an intense debate in court. Justice P.T. Asha reserved the verdict to thoroughly look through the records submitted by the CBFC in relation to the previous last minute complaint that jeopardized the film’s certification.
Key Revelations in Court:
Internal Complaint: The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) said that a complaint which halted the process was filed by a member of the Examining Committee itself. The “power of the Chairperson”: The CBFC claimed that even in the circumstance of an initial recommendation, the Chairperson has the authority to order a review and its power is magnified when military and religious sentiments arise.
Arbitrary Delay?
The producers contended that, as they had already accepted and carried out all of the 27 cuts and tweaks proposed on December 22, the abrupt referral to a Revising Committee on January 5 was arbitrary and legally flawed. The fallout: A Logistical nightmare in a Multi-Crore Setting. A project like Jana Nayagan, the project worth ₹500 crore, going through is not just a delay. It’d be a financial disaster for distributors and theater owners. Fans Suspect “Political Vendetta.” "#JanaNayaganBlocked" is trending among fans, who say the certification delay is one of calculated aims to snuff out Vijay's politics.
With the actor gearing up for his final transition to his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), his supporters consider the CBFC's sudden concerns "religious sentiment" to be a ploy to delay his politically powerful messaging on the large screen. The Madras High Court’s ruling on Friday morning will confirm whether or not the film can hold at least matinee or evening release on January 9, or whether the whole premiere might just remain the next week.
