The Censor Standoff: Why Thalapathy Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ Is Facing a Legal Hurdles While ‘Dhurandhar 2’ Succeeded

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The release of Thalapathy Vijay’s highly anticipated final film, Jana Nayagan, is currently blocked by a major legal battle with the film censors. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has refused to clear the movie for theaters.

Even though the filmmakers made 27 different cuts, a last-minute complaint about religious and military scenes stopped the process. The Madras High Court is now deciding the case. This delay puts a Rs. 500 crore investment at risk and has left millions of fans waiting for an answer.

The Standoff Between Creative Freedom and Bureaucracy

The trouble started when the producers sent the film to the CBFC in December. At first, a committee agreed to give it a U/A certificate if some parts were edited. However, the process stopped suddenly. The CBFC Chairperson moved the film to a new committee because one member complained.

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The filmmakers were very upset by this move. They argued they had already followed every rule and took the case to the Madras High Court. A judge first ruled in favor of the film. He told the board to give them the certificate. However, the CBFC appealed that decision immediately. Now, the court has paused everything. The board says the film might hurt public feelings, while the producers believe the delay is a trick to stop a political movie from coming out.

Why is 'Dhurandhar 2' Being Dragged into the 'Jana Nayagan' Debate?

The producers are using the Bollywood film Dhurandhar 2, starring Ranveer Singh, to show a double standard. They claim the CBFC treats Hindi films differently from Tamil films. Dhurandhar 2 faced serious legal complaints from a military family about how it showed a real hero. Even with those complaints, the board cleared the movie for release quite quickly.

The makers of Jana Nayagan want to know why they are being treated more harshly. They agreed to 27 cuts, yet they are still blocked. Meanwhile, big Bollywood movies can often be released by simply using a fiction disclaimer. This comparison shows a lack of fairness in the certification process. Fans are asking why a regional superstar is facing more hurdles than a Bollywood star. The delay is also causing trouble with streaming partners like Amazon. If the movie does not release soon, the producers could face huge fines.

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