Vijay’s Jana Nayagan still awaiting CBFC clearance five months after delay, producer confirms

The release of Vijay’s much-awaited final film Jana Nayagan remains in limbo, with producer Venkat K Narayana confirming that the project is yet to receive certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) despite months of delays.

The update comes amid growing speculation surrounding the fate of the H Vinoth-directed political action drama, which was originally scheduled to hit theatres in January 2026 before becoming entangled in a prolonged certification process.

Producer says certification process is still underway

Speaking to reporters recently, Venkat K Narayana revealed that Jana Nayagan has still not been cleared by the CBFC. Reporters had asked him about the update on the film when he was spotted at a temple on Friday evening. According to the producer, the team continues to await the final certificate before announcing the film’s release date.

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He said, “This is not the place to talk about Jana Nayagan. I came for temple darshan. But as I told, we’re waiting for certificate to come. I am sure that they’re going to give it anytime soon. We’ll release at the earliest. This is not the place to talk about anything else, thank you. I came here to take God’s blessings. I came here for darshan and I am very happy that Vijay sir has become chief minister of Tamil Nadu. As you know, we have put the title Jana Nayagan. He has become Jana Nayagan of Tamil Nadu, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. I am very happy. That’s why I came for darshan.”

His statement comes days after reports suggested that Vijay had allegedly asked the producer to cut short his visit to the Cannes Film Festival to discuss the film’s prolonged delay. The producer, however, reiterated that the project remains tied up in the certification process.

Why has Jana Nayagan been delayed?

The film has faced a series of hurdles since late 2025. Reports indicate that the project was initially submitted to the CBFC in December but became the subject of a lengthy review process, including scrutiny by a revising committee.

Earlier reports suggested that concerns were raised over certain political themes, imagery and scenes in the film, resulting in additional examination and legal proceedings between the makers and the certification body.

The producers had even approached the courts over the delay before eventually withdrawing their petition and continuing with the CBFC review process.

Leak controversy added to the film’s troubles

The certification issue is not the only challenge Jana Nayagan has faced. In April, the film was hit by a major piracy controversy after a high-definition version reportedly surfaced online before its official release.

The leak triggered widespread outrage among Vijay fans and members of the Tamil film industry. The CBFC later denied allegations that the leak originated from its system, stating that its certification process follows a secure and access-controlled protocol.

Several arrests were subsequently made in connection with the unauthorised circulation of the film.

Vijay’s final film before politics

Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan stars Vijay alongside Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol and Mamitha Baiju. The film is widely viewed as Vijay’s final screen appearance before his full-time transition into politics.

That significance has only heightened anticipation around the project, with fans eagerly awaiting confirmation of a release date after months of uncertainty. For now, however, the film’s theatrical debut remains dependent on the long-pending CBFC certification.