After a long week of litigation and administrative disputes involving the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Tamil film industry has come out on top. Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi, a South Indian political thriller, and Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, a Tamil political thriller, have now been awarded the most coveted 'UA' certificates on January 9, 2026, and can, thank you, step onto the stage like a lion.
And even as Jana Nayagan waged its crusade in the Madras High Court, Parasakthi went another way, making its appeal to the Mumbai Review Committee in an effort to safeguard its artistic integrity.
The ‘Parasakthi’ Controversy
23 Cuts, and a Brave Position. Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sudha Kongara, Parasakthi is a raw historical drama focused on the anti-Hindi imposition protests in Tamil Nadu.
The sensitivity of the subject also made the regional CBFC in Tamil Nadu request a shocking 23 cuts at first. The board was worried that particular dialogues and sections that decried central policies could lead to linguistic discord. Sudha Kongara, however, did not relent. She said that stripping those scenes would "dilute the soul of the narrative" and make the historical background meaningless.
After refusing to accept the cuts, the film was referred to the Mumbai Review Committee. Today, the committee was in the filmmakers’ favor and issued a UA certificate with little modification, keeping the hard-hitting message intact.
Plot & Cast:
A revolutionary tale. Parasakthi’s a film that Sivakarthikeyan is sure to be “a career-shaping film.” He leaves behind his “neighborhood boy” persona to serve as a fiery revolutionary leader. This film details a people who fight to preserve their linguistic identity both physically and politically and it paints a poignant picture.
Key Highlights of the Film:
- Sivakarthikeyan: The film’s protagonist is a student leader turned activist.
- Sreeleela: A surprising twist: She plays a Hindi teacher, who embodies the ideological clash of the story's subplot.
- Jayam Ravi: Nowhere is Jayam Ravi’s role as an antagonist quite as complete as it is today, though: a cold, calculating bureaucrat for the first time.
- The soundtrack has also been reported as designed to evoke the spirit of the 1960s.
Box Office Dynamics A Golden Opportunity?
These clearances have created a fascinating box office situation; and at the same time, even though Jana Nayagan was just awarded its UA certificate by the Court, there was still some delay in physical issuance, so its release date is in uncertain hands. A huge boon to Parashakti is provided by this delay. If Jana Nayagan does not hit the January 10 window, Sivakarthikeyan’s movie will enjoy something of a solo release across Tamil Nadu.
The “anti-Hindi agitation” theme has already become a hot topic among local audiences, according to trade analysts, and with no major competition tomorrow, Parasakthi is set for a record opening. The Road Ahead. The concurrent fight on the part of these two films raised a broader debate about the role of the CBFC in a democracy. Directors and actors in the South Indian film fraternity have hailed the developments today as a "victory for freedom of expression." With theaters preparing for Pongal celebrations, all eyes are now focused on the box office to see if these “controversial” themes will translate into box office hits.
