Madras HC Clears Jana Nayagan Release, Orders CBFC to Grant UA 16+ Cert

In a significant ruling for Tamil cinema, the Madras High Court directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant a UA 16+ certificate to the Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan, clearing its theatrical release. The court found no legal basis for reopening the certification process and set aside the CBFC chairperson’s decision to send the film for a fresh Revising Committee review. The order requires the Board to issue the certificate forthwith.

Justice PT Asha held that the CBFC chairperson acted without jurisdiction in reopening certification after the Examining Committee had cleared the film, subject to the suggested modifications. Once the producers implemented those modifications, the certificate ought to have followed automatically, the court noted. The judge also warned that entertaining complaints to trigger post-certification reviews could set a dangerous precedent and emphasized that statutory authorities cannot function arbitrarily.

The court set aside the chairperson’s January 6 letter directing the film to be placed before the Revising Committee, reinforcing that a concluded certification cannot be unsettled by an afterthought grievance. The CBFC, represented by counsel, sought an urgent hearing on the matter, but the Chief Justice advised filing a proper appeal first and left the door open for further proceedings. The petition had been filed by KVN Productions, the film’s producers, challenging the review move.

The verdict effectively clears the way for Jana Nayagan’s release, ending a dispute that had clouded one of Tamil cinema’s high-profile releases. The ruling comes as industry observers watch closely how certification processes interact with creative decisions and release schedules in a high-stakes market.

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