Is Jana Nayagan with revising committee? Censor board official tight-lipped

Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan faces continued delay due to censor certificate issues. The ongoing legal battle raises questions about film certification transparency and procedural fairness.

Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan is all over the news again after reports about the makers agreeing to withdraw the ongoing legal dispute with the Censor Board for Film Certification (CBFC) over the non-issuance of a censor certificate emerged. Now, CBFC regional officer, D Balamurali, has reacted to the same and shared his thoughts on whether Jana Nayagan has been submitted to the revising committee as reports claim.

CBFC Chennai Regional Officer D Balamurali told The Hindu that they cannot reveal any information pertaining to any film until the certificate is issued. Explaining that he doesn't have information regarding KVN Productions', the production of Jana Nayagan, next line of action, he said that the law prohibits them from revealing their examination process.

He said, "All our examination process is confidential. We cannot reveal anything until a certificate is issued. The law prohibits sharing of any such information." Balamurali also added that the public will get to know the information only when a film is certified. "At that time, we will communicate through our portal," he said.

Vijay's Jana Nayagan was originally slated to hit theatres on January 9. However, the film's release has been delayed indefinitely after the makers knocked on the doors of the Madras High Court over the delay in the issuance of the censor certificate.

While the makers claim that they received a communication from the board on December 22 about the film being suitable for U/A 16+ certificate, post-excisions, the board claims that the CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi decided to withhold the certificate due to an internal complaint.

The complaint from one of the members who watched the film alleged that the film might disrupt religious harmony and that the members did not follow due process while certifying the film.