Five months on, Vijay’s 'Jana Nayagan' still awaits CBFC clearance

Nearly five months after its scheduled release, director H Vinoth’s much-awaited political drama Jana Nayagan is still awaiting certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), leaving the makers uncertain about the film’s release timeline.

Starring Vijay in the lead role, the film was initially slated for a Pongal release on January 9, 2026. However, the film hit an unexpected roadblock after a member of the CBFC’s examining committee reportedly raised objections, resulting in the film being referred to a revising committee. The delay has since stretched for several months.

Movie yet to be certified

Speaking to reporters during a temple visit, producer Venkat K Narayana of KVN Productions confirmed that the film is yet to receive its censor certificate.

Also read: ‘Jana Nayagan’ expected to release in two weeks: Producer

“This is not the place to discuss the film. I came here for a darshan. We are waiting for the certificate and hope it will be issued very soon. Once we receive it, we will announce the release date well in advance and release the film worldwide in a grand manner,” he said.

When asked further about the delay, Venkat did not comment on the certification process but said the team remains hopeful of an early clearance.

Vijay in politics

The producer also expressed happiness over Vijay’s rise in politics, drawing a parallel with the film’s title. “We named the film Jana Nayagan, and now Vijay sir has truly become the people’s leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. I am very happy,” he said.

The film features music by Anirudh Ravichander and also stars Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde in key roles.

Also read: ‘Three-hour TVK propaganda’: Kasthuri after watching leaked ‘Jana Nayagan’ clip

According to reports, Vijay recently asked the producer to return from the Cannes Film Festival to personally oversee the final stages surrounding the film’s release. Despite the prolonged delay, the makers continue to maintain that the project will eventually hit theatres once the certification process is complete.

Movie leak row

The controversy around the film further intensified after portions of the movie were allegedly leaked online during the certification process. Several clips and screenshots claiming to be from the film surfaced on social media platforms, sparking concern among fans and the production team.

While the makers did not officially comment on the source of the leak, the incident added to speculation surrounding the prolonged censor clearance and raised concerns over piracy and unauthorised circulation of unreleased content.