The certification process for Thalapathy Vijay’s much-awaited film Jana Nayagan has encountered yet another setback after the scheduled review by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) revising committee was postponed at the last minute. The screening, which was expected to take place on March 9, was cancelled because a member of the reviewing panel reportedly fell ill.
The film had been slated to be evaluated by the revising committee after earlier disagreements between the producers and the censor board over certain scenes and content. With the committee screening now postponed indefinitely, the movie’s certification and consequently its theatrical release remains uncertain.
Jana Nayagan, directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, is widely expected to be one of the biggest Tamil releases of the year. The film carries added significance as it is widely described as Vijay’s final film.
The project has faced multiple hurdles since late 2025. Initially submitted to the CBFC in December, the film reportedly agreed to several suggested edits. However, a complaint regarding the depiction of religious sentiments and the use of armed-forces imagery led the CBFC chairperson to refer the film to a revising committee for re-examination, prolonging the certification process.
The delay has generated intense discussion among fans and within the film industry, as the movie’s release date has already shifted multiple times. Trade analysts say the certification is a crucial step before the makers can announce a final release plan, including theatrical schedules and the previously reported OTT deal.
For now, the producers are expected to wait for the CBFC to announce a new date for the revising committee screening, after which the board will decide whether to grant the film a certificate and what category rating it will receive.
If cleared soon, Jana Nayagan could still aim for a major theatrical window later this year, but the continuing delays have left fans awaiting an official update from the filmmakers.
-Samuthiran
