Madras High Court Prevents Illegal Broadcast of Vijay Starrer "Jana Nayagan" Movie

Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy granted the interim relief in a suit moved by the movie's producers, KVN Productions. The production company had moved the court after noting that parts of the movie were being illegally streamed online, even before it was certified by the Central Bureau of Certification. 

To recap, the movie, slated to be the last of actor Vijay's career before his official entry into politics, was caught in a legal web after the CBFC delayed its certification. The producers of the movie, KVN Productions, had approached the court against the delay.  The single judge, on January 9, ruled in favour of the production house and directed the CBFC to certify the movie forthwith. However, on the same day, the division bench stayed the single judge's order.

Later, the division bench set aside the order of the single judge, noting that the Board was not given a proper opportunity of being heard. However, the bench sent the matter back to the single judge for fresh adjudication. Though the court had given liberty to the producers to challenge the CBFC's decision to send the movie to the revising committee, the producers decided to withdraw the plea, which was permitted by the single judge.

While the movie's certification process was still pending, clips from the movie were circulated online. A complaint was registered, and six persons have been arrested in connection with the illegal streaming of the movie.

While so, the production company has approached the court seeking to prevent illegal streaming of the movie. The production company had sought a permanent injunction restraining the ISPs and cable operators from infringing the movie and to block all websites and web pages hosting content related to the movie.

The production company submitted that while the certification of the movie was pending, it was shocked to learn that the movie was circulating on social media unlawfully. The company argued that they were the producers of the movie and owners of the copyright. Thus, it was submitted that the illegal broadcast would infringe the rights of the company.

Taking note of the submission, the court ruled that if the illegal broadcast were permitted to continue, the company would be put to irreparable loss. Thus, the court ordered interim injunction restraining the illegal broadcast.

“Petitioner asserts that they are the producers of the film and owners of copyright. Even the certification process is not completed. If illegal broadcast is permitted, it will cause irreparable injury to plaintiff. Thus, there shall be an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from illegally broadcasting the cinematograph film,” the court ruled.

The court has issued notices to the respondents and adjourned the plea to June 2nd.

Case Title: KVN Productions v Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Others

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 164

Case No: OA 330 of 2026 in CS (Comm Div) 110 of 2026