Jana Nayagan: Court Cases, Not CBFC, Delayed Film

The prolonged certification process for Thalapathy Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan,' which ultimately received an 'A' certificate, has been attributed to external factors by former CBFC advisory panel member EV Ganesh Babu. He explained that the examining committee's recommendation for a Revising Committee was followed by the filmmakers approaching the court.

This legal route naturally extended the certification timeline as CBFC officials were required to respond to court proceedings. Babu, who viewed the film but was not on the final certifying panel, clarified that no one within the CBFC wished to delay the film's release.

Adding to the complications, the announcement of elections triggered the Model Code of Conduct, which officers could not disregard given the film's political undertones. Babu suggested that had the filmmakers pursued the Revising Committee earlier and withdrawn their court case, the certification might have been completed before Pongal and before the election code came into effect.

He dismissed rumors of leaks during screenings, assuring that CBFC processes are secure. Babu stressed that the delay was a consequence of procedural and legal circumstances, not a lack of willingness from the CBFC to issue a certificate.