Thalapathy Vijay starrer much-anticipated film Jana Nayagan, touted to be his final outing before stepping fully into politics, has run into a last-minute hurdle. On Wednesday, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court stayed an earlier single-judge order that had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant censor clearance to the film, according to Bar and Bench report.

Thalapathy Vijay starrer Jana Nayagan hits legal roadblock just hours before release as Madras High Court stays CBFC clearance

The stay came just hours after Justice PT Asha, sitting as a single judge, had ruled in favour of the filmmakers and ordered the CBFC to issue a U/A 16+ certificate to the Vijay-starrer. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Justice Arul Murugan, passed the interim stay after the CBFC moved an urgent appeal.

According to the Bench, the stay was granted primarily because the Central government had not been given sufficient time to file its response to the producers’ plea.

Jana Nayagan, which stars Vijay alongside Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde, is scheduled to release on January 9. The makers had approached the High Court alleging an unexplained delay by the CBFC in issuing the final censor certificate, despite the film having complied with all the cuts suggested by the Examining Committee.

The producers revealed that they had applied for certification on December 18, 2025. After a personal hearing, the Examining Committee, through a communication dated December 22, recommended a U/A 16+ rating, citing violence, fight sequences, gory visuals and brief references to religious sentiments. Certain edits were suggested, which the makers claim were fully implemented.

A revised version of the film was submitted on December 24, and the changes were verified on December 29. Following this, the producers were reportedly informed that Jana Nayagan would be granted the U/A 16+ certificate.

However, the situation took a turn on January 5, 2026, when the makers received an email stating that the film was being sent to a Revising Committee, based on a complaint alleging improper portrayal of defence forces and potential hurt to religious sentiments. It later emerged that the complaint had been made by a member of the Examining Committee itself.

In her detailed order, Justice PT Asha had observed that once the Examining Committee’s recommendation was accepted and complied with, the CBFC could not reopen the process by sending the film for re-examination. She held that the referral to a Revising Committee was flawed and beyond jurisdiction, especially after the filmmakers had carried out all mandated modifications.

As of now, the Division Bench’s interim stay means that Jana Nayagan’s certification — and potentially its release — remains in limbo for now, pending further hearing. The producers have argued that the rules do not allow a concluded certification process to be reopened based on undisclosed complaints.

The filmmakers were represented by Senior Advocate Satish Parasaran, along with advocates Vijayan Subramanian and Shubang Nair, while the CBFC was represented by Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan.

As fans await what could be Vijay’s farewell film before his full-time political entry, all eyes are now on the next hearing, which will determine whether Jana Nayagan can hit theatres as scheduled.

Also Read: Jana Nayagan makers CONFIRM postponement of Thalapathy Vijay’s final film; issue statement

Tags : CBFC, Censor, Censor Board, Censorship, Central Board Of Film Certification, Jana Nayagan, Legal case, Madras High Court, South, South Cinema, Thalapathy Vijay