Uncertainty Looms Over Vijay’s Jana Nayagan Ahead of Release

Trouble continues to surround Thalapathy Vijay’s much awaited film Jana Nayagan, which is being seen as his final outing before fully stepping into politics. Just days before its planned release on January 9, the film is facing serious certification hurdles, putting its opening day plans in doubt.

After the makers approached the Madras High Court seeking relief over delays in censor clearance, the court on Wednesday decided to reserve its final verdict for Friday, the film’s release date itself. This has effectively stalled all shows scheduled before 10 am, leading to the cancellation of early morning screenings.

During the hearing, the court also directed that Jana Nayagan be reviewed again by a newly formed CBFC committee. This has become a major setback, as approval for the Tamil version is mandatory before the dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada can be cleared.

Following these developments, ticket booking options have temporarily disappeared from BookMyShow in several cities, adding to the uncertainty around the film’s release logistics.

Earlier, the CBFC informed the court that a fresh review would be conducted after the producers sought clarity on the certification process. The filmmakers had moved court after waiting for more than a month despite submitting the film well in advance. Although the matter was initially scheduled for January 6, it was pushed to January 7, increasing anxiety among fans and exhibitors. 

The censor board had earlier recommended cuts and muted dialogues on December 19, but the issue remains unresolved.

Despite these last minute obstacles, the buzz around Jana Nayagan remains exceptionally strong. Advance bookings are witnessing massive response across regions. In Karnataka, several single screen theatres have already sold out their first day first show screenings starting as early as 6 am.

Kerala is also showing encouraging trends, with strong advance sales at single screens reflecting Vijay’s loyal fan following. Overseas markets are no different, with advance collections reportedly crossing Rs 35 crore.

Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan features an ensemble cast including Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani, and Narain.