Kamal Haasan flags threat to creative freedom amid Jana Nayagan censor row, calls for transparent film certification reforms

Kamal Haasan on censorship amid Jana Nayagan

• Kamal Haasan warns Jana Nayagan censorship row threatens artistic freedom
• He urges transparent film certification and clear timelines for CBFC decisions
• Madras HC stay delays Vijay's Jana Nayagan release amid industry criticism

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Veteran actor-politician Kamal Haasan has weighed in strongly on the evolving censorship controversy over the Tamil film Jana Nayagan, warning that the ongoing dispute extends far beyond a single movie and poses a broader threat to freedom of expression in Indian cinema. His comments come as the film’s release has been mired in legal wrangling and certification delays, stirring intense debate within the film industry and political circles.

Jana Nayagan, starring Thalapathy Vijay and positioned as his purported farewell film, was originally slated to release on January 9, 2026. However, the movie’s clearances were held up when the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not grant the necessary U/A certificate despite earlier recommendations. A single-judge court order directing the board to issue the certificate was later stayed by the Madras High Court, delaying the release further.

In response to the impasse, Kamal Haasan took to social media and published a detailed note on his Rajya Sabha letterhead, captioned “For Art, For Artists, For the Constitution.” In it, he argued that the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression — a right that should not be undermined by opacity in the certification process. He stressed that filmmaking is a collaborative ecosystem supporting writers, technicians, exhibitors and small businesses whose livelihoods depend on clarity and fairness in regulation.

Kamal criticised the lack of transparent timelines and clear reasoning in censor decisions, asserting that “when clarity is absent, creativity is constrained, economic activity is disrupted, and public trust is weakened.” He urged a “principled relook” at film certification, advocating for defined certification timelines, transparent evaluation procedures, and written justifications for any cuts or changes demanded by the board.

The Jana Nayagan row has also drawn wide support from other industry figures, with filmmaker Pa Ranjith alleging that the censor issues reflect a political vendetta and Times of India reporting broader industry dissatisfaction with CBFC procedures.

Also read: Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan release on hold as Madras HC stays certification

Jana Nayagan features actor-politician Vijay in the lead role.