Breaking| Madras High Court Sets Aside Single Judge's Order Directing UA Certificate To Actor Vijay Movie 'Jana Nayagan'

The Madras High Court, today, has set aside the Judgment passed by the Single Judge directing the grant of a 'UA’ certificate to the actor Vijay-starrer Film Jana Nayagan in the appeal filed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The court had reserved orders on January 20, 2026, after hearing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and KVN Productions LLP at length.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan ordered, "The Single Judge ought not to have gone into the merits of the case. The decision of the Writ Court has to go...the appeal is allowed, and the impugned order is set aside. The writ petitioner is given an opportunity to amend the Writ Petition."

Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan appeared for CBFC, whereas Senior Advocate Satish Parasaran appeared for the Producer. 

The Court said that the Single Judge erred by adjudicating on the merits of the case without affording the CBFC a fair opportunity to be heard, particularly as the Chairperson's order had not been formally challenged in the prayer. 

The Court ordered, "A complaint was placed before the Chairman, particularly with regard to the content of the film. It appears that the film had some dialogue regarding foreign powers creating religious conflict in India, which may disturb religious disharmony..."

The Division Bench has remanded the matter to the Single Judge for fresh consideration, directing a de novo hearing on the merits after ensuring all procedural requirements are met.

Background

Before the Single Bench, a writ petition was filed seeking the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the CBFC to grant a Censor Certificate in the name of the petitioner, being the producer of the film “Jana Nayagan” under the UA 16+ category, as per the CBFC's communication within a period of 24 hours. The lead cast actors for the above film are Vijay, Prakash Raj and other leading artists from the South Indian Film Industry.

On December 18, 2025, the Petitioner applied for certification for Jana Nayagan. Following a review, the Examining Committee recommended a UA 16+ certificate subject to specific cuts. The petitioner complied, and by December 29, the CBFC confirmed the modifications were verified, and the certificate would be issued. The process then stalled due to technical issues on the CBFC portal regarding audio descriptions.

Despite the petitioner’s repeated reminders, the board failed to issue the certificate. Instead, on January 5, 2026, the CBFC unexpectedly referred the film to a Revising Committee following an undisclosed complaint regarding religious sentiments and the armed forces. The petitioner moved the court, arguing that once the committee had approved the film and cuts were made, the board could not legally restart the review process.

On Friday, January 9, the Single Bench had directed the Central Board of Film Certification to forthwith grant a U/A certificate to the movie.

On the same day, the CBFC urgently requested the Madras High Court to list its appeal against a single judge’s order. That order directed the board to immediately grant a U/A certificate to the movie. The Division Bench, later in the afternoon session, had stayed the order passed by the Single Bench.

On January 15, 2026, the Supreme Court also refused to interfere with the order passed by the Division Bench.

Cause Title: Central Board of Film Certification and Anr. v. KVN Productions LLP [C.M.P.No.821 of 2026 in W.A.No.94 of 2026]