Censor Board revising committee skips Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan screening, film to face more delay

Censor Board revising committee skips Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan screening, film to face more delay

• Jana Nayagan's screening delayed as CBFC members failed to attend
• No active CBFC board in Chennai causing certification delays
• Film release uncertain due to certification issues

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The much-anticipated screening of Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan has hit yet another hurdle, as members of the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) revising committee reportedly failed to attend a scheduled screening in Chennai, leading to further delays in the film’s release process.

According to reports, the screening was planned for Tuesday, with the film’s team waiting until 6 pm for confirmation and the arrival of committee members.

However, there was no communication or presence from the panel, forcing the screening to be postponed once again. This unexpected no-show has added to the growing uncertainty surrounding the film’s certification.

Sources suggest that the absence of a functioning CBFC board in Chennai is one of the key reasons behind the delay.

Following the end of S Ve Shekhar’s tenure, there are currently no active board members stationed at the Chennai office.

Members from other regions, including Jeevitha Rajasekhar from Hyderabad and Nagabharana from Karnataka, were expected to travel to Chennai to conduct the screening. However, they did not turn up, leaving the process stalled.

This is not the first time Jana Nayagan has faced delays in its censor process.

Earlier, the screening was scheduled for March 9 but had to be postponed to March 17 after a revising committee member reportedly fell ill. The latest development only adds to the film’s prolonged wait for certification.

The film, directed by H Vinoth, has been in the spotlight not just for its star cast but also for its political significance. Billed as Vijay’s final film before his expected entry into electoral politics, Jana Nayagan was originally slated for a theatrical release on January 9. However, the release was put on hold due to the non-issuance of a censor certificate.

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In a bid to expedite the process, the makers had approached the Madras High Court on January 6. While a single bench directed the CBFC to issue the certificate immediately, the order was later stayed by a division bench. The team then moved the Supreme Court, but the apex court declined to intervene and directed the matter back to the High Court.

Eventually, the makers withdrew their legal plea and opted to proceed through the revising committee route to secure certification.

Jana Nayagan features a strong ensemble cast including Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Menon, Prakash Raj and Priyamani. Backed by KVN Productions, the film continues to generate buzz, but its release remains uncertain as certification delays persist.