Vijay’s Jana Nayagan reaches Supreme Court after CBFC row, release in limbo

A division bench of the High Court had deferred further hearing in the matter until January 21, after the Pongal holidays, effectively putting the film’s release on hold.

The interim stay came just hours after a single judge ordered the CBFC to issue a UA certificate following certain modifications by the filmmakers, while also criticising the board for entertaining complaints against the film and calling it a “dangerous trend”.

Soon after the order was passed, the CBFC filed an appeal and sought an urgent hearing before a division bench later the same day.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the producers of Jana Nayagan, while Additional Solicitor General A.R.L. Sundaresan and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the CBFC.

Arguing for the censor board, Sundaresan contended that the CBFC was not given an opportunity to file a counter-affidavit before the single judge passed the order. He also argued that while the producers had not challenged the CBFC chairman’s decision to refer the film to a Revising Committee, the single judge had nonetheless quashed that decision.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice questioned how such an order could be passed without allowing the CBFC to place its version on record. The court also noted that the CBFC has a statutory right to refer a film to a Revising Committee.

The film’s release, originally scheduled for January 9, was delayed after a complaint was submitted to the CBFC alleging that certain scenes hurt religious sentiments.

On January 7, KVN Productions announced the postponement of the release, citing “unavoidable circumstances beyond our control”, and assured audiences that a new release date would be announced soon.

Jana Nayagan, which also stars Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde, was slated for a coordinated worldwide release, including markets such as the US, UK, Malaysia and Canada.