As is the case in most cases in late January in the form of a long-awaited special release, this has come as a shock to millions of fans and to countless fans, Jana Nayagan, the last of Thalapathy Vijay’s films is officially extended beyond the festive season (in this case the Pongal campaign that began years ago).
The Madras High Court on Friday, January 9, 2026 frozen a single judgment that allowed for release on the playing field. As the chief justice of the division bench, the case was finally adjourned to January 21, 2026 to allow the film not to be released during the lucrative holiday. This legal hurdle strikes a major blow for KVN Productions, which had set out to roll-out an expansive global release on 5,000 screens at risk of losing almost ₹500 crore.
The Courtroom Drama: Single Judge Vs. Division Bench
The day opened with glimmers of hope after Justice PT Asha threw out the CBFC Chairperson’s order to release the film for a new review. She instructed the board to “forthwith” grant a U/A 16+ certificate, finding that eleventh-hour complaints became an “afterthought” and established a “dangerous precedent..”.
But minutes later, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with representation of the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) filed an urgent writ appeal before the Chief Justice’s bench.
Legal Arguments from the Hearing
- No room for Opportunity: The ASG contended that the CBFC was not afforded equal opportunity at the single-judge hearing to seek a counter-affidavit or defend its position.
- Procedural Integrity: The court argued that the Chairperson has the authority in law to compel a review should unresolved objections arise, namely with regard to religious sentiments or the depiction of military forces, prior to the final certificate being circulated.
- Premature Release Plans: The Chief Justice said the producers should have received the required certificate before selling more than two lakh tickets and declaring a pre-solicited release date.
Understanding the Controversy
The friction began in December when the film was submitted under the Tatkal process. While the examining committee initially suggested 27 cuts and mutes, a single member of the committee later raised a new complaint. As a result, the Chairperson paused the certification process and sent the film to a Revising Committee on January 5-4 days prior to its release.
The film fraternity has come to support Vijay, and there have been many who have condemned the “rigid and arbitrary” nature of contemporary censorship. Leaded by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan is viewed as a political launchpad for Vijay who is currently playing a prominent role in contests in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The Aftermath of Financial and Emotional Fallout
The postponement has rattled the distribution network. Advance bookings on overseas territories including Malaysia and Europe had been canceled and domestic theaters are now facing widespread refund requests. For the fans, a "Thalapathy Pongal" has been taken from them as they know this will be Vijay's last movie. Now its fate waits to see the film (star-studded among them is Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde and Prakash Raj) on January 21.
