The Madras High Court on Friday directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant a U/A certificate to Thalapathy Vijay’s upcoming movie, Jana Nayagan. This news had the superstar’s fans jumping in excitement as they were all set to race to theatres to watch Vijay’s last film, but soon after the judgment was passed by a single judge, a division bench of the High Court reportedly put a stay order on it.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan, while hearing an appeal by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), put an interim stay on Vijay’s last film, Jana Nayagan, hours after the order to provide it with a U/A 16+ certificate was passed.
As per what Free Press Journal reported, the bench observed that the CBFC was given inadequate time to submit a counter-affidavit before granting permission on the writ petition filed by KVN Productions LLP. “You cannot create a false state of emergency and put pressure on the court to pass orders. How can you go ahead with the screening of the movie without any certificate?" the Chief Justice remarked.
While senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Satish Parasaran, appearing for the film’s producer, urged the court to treat the matter as urgent, the bench remarked that the petition should not have been decided so quickly. The court noted that the case was disposed of within two days of filing, without giving the CBFC enough time to defend itself.
For the unversed, Vijay’s Jana Nayagan was supposed to hit theatres on January 9 but was then postponed due to certification issues. “It is with a heavy heart that we share this update with our valued stakeholders and audiences. The release of Jana Nayagan, eagerly awaited on January 9, has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control," the makers announced earlier this week.
“We deeply understand the anticipation, excitement, and emotions surrounding this film, and this decision has not been an easy one for any of us. The new release date will be announced at the earliest. Until then, we humbly request your patience and continued love. Your unwavering support is our greatest strength and means everything to the entire Jana Nayagan team," the statement added.
Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan features an ensemble cast including Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani, and Narain. The film has been heavily marketed as Vijay’s final cinematic outing before his full-time foray into politics, adding to the anticipation surrounding its release.
