Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Vijay’s Jana Nayagan Plea

The makers of Jana Nayagan have suffered a major setback after the Supreme Court of India refused to hear their plea and asked them to approach the Madras High Court instead. The decision has added to the uncertainty surrounding the release of the film, which stars Vijay in the lead role.

Jana Nayagan was originally scheduled to hit theatres on January 9, but the film is still waiting for its censor certificate. Directed by H Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, the movie ran into trouble after objections were raised by the Central Board of Film Certification.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court clearly stated that it was “not inclined” to hear the matter at this stage. The judges also questioned why the producers rushed to the top court instead of following the legal process in the High Court. As a result, the Supreme Court directed the Madras High Court to hear the appeal on January 20.

Earlier, a single judge of the Madras High Court had ordered the Censor Board to grant a UA certificate to the film after certain changes were made. The judge also criticised the board for entertaining complaints against the film, warning that such actions could create a dangerous precedent. However, soon after that order, a two-judge bench of the High Court stayed the decision following an appeal by the Censor Board.

The Censor Board has argued that the film contains symbols related to the armed forces, which, according to them, need to be examined carefully by experts. To protect its position, the board even filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, requesting that no order be passed without hearing its side.

The legal trouble is seen as especially significant because Jana Nayagan is being promoted as Vijay’s final film before he fully focuses on politics through his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.