Madras High Court Permits 'Jana Nayagan' Movie Producer To Withdraw Plea Against CBFC

The Madras High Court on Tuesday (February 10) permitted KVN Productions, producers of Vijay starrer "Jana Nayagan" movie to withdraw their plea challenging the certification process of the Central Board of Film Certification. Justice PT Asha permitted a request made by Vijayan Subramaniam, advocate for the production company. The production company had sent a letter to the High Court registry expressing its intention to withdraw the case. The production company had informed the court that it had decided to go ahead with the review process and thus did not wish to continue with the litigation. Following the letter, the case was posted today under the caption "for withdrawal".The movie, which is slated to be the final movie of actor Vijay 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, approached the court against the delay.The production house argued that, though it had been informed by the board that the movie would be given a "UA" certificate upon certain incisions/modifications, the certificate had not been issued even after making such changes. The production house also questioned the CBFC chairperson's decision to send the movie to the revising committee after informing that it would be given a "UA" certificate.The CBFC, however, informed the single judge that a decision was taken to send the movie to the revising committee upon receipt of a complaint from one of the members of the examining committee alleging that his objections were not considered. It was submitted that the complaint disclosed that some of the scenes in the movie could hurt religious sentiments and even portrayed the armed forces wrongly.The single judge, on January 9, ruled in favour of the production house and directed the CBFC to certify the movie forthwith. The court observed that the Chairperson's decision to send the movie for review, after informing the producers that the movie would be certified, was without jurisdiction. The court also criticised against entertaining complaints from the members of the examining committee, after they had already given their recommendations.Soon after the single judge's order, an urgent mention was made before the Chief Justice's bench. On the same day, the division bench stayed the single judge's order. The court also made strong remarks against the producers for "creating an urgency" and putting pressure on the judicial system.Later, the division bench set aside the order of the single judge, noting that the Board was not given proper opportunity to put forward their case. The division bench also noted that the single judge should not have set aside the order of the Chairperson, in the absence of a prayer for the same. The bench, however, sent the matter back to the single judge for fresh adjudication. The court had also directed the producers to amend their prayer before the single judge and challenge the order of the Chairperson sending the movie for review.Counsel for Petitioner: Mr Vijayan SubramaniamCounsel for Respondent: Mr ARL Sundaresan, ASGCase Title: M/s KVN Productions v. Central Board of Film Certification and anotherCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 58Case No: WP 380 of 2026

Madras High Court Permits 'Jana Nayagan' Movie Producer To Withdraw Plea Against CBFC

Upasana Sajeev

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