After months of legal battles, certification delays, bootleg leaks and endless speculation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ has finally received the go-ahead from the Indian government central board of film certification (CBFC). The film has been awarded an A-grade certificate, ending one of the longest and most controversial censorship processes in Tamil cinema in recent years. Its certified run time is 3 hours and 3 minutes.Although the CBFC certificate has been uploaded to the official website of the bureau, the specific reduction list has not yet been announced. According to industry reports, Vijay’s much-anticipated farewell film may be released on July 23 or July 24. The producers have not officially announced the release date yet.Initially, ‘Jana Nayagan’ was scheduled to release on January 9 ahead of Pongal celebrations, just a few months before Vijay’s maiden campaign. The film was submitted to the CBFC on December 19, 2025, but instead of being certified in the usual time, it was stuck in an unusually long approval process.The review board initially asked the manufacturer to make certain modifications. After making the required changes and resubmitting the film, the producers said they had been informed that the film was considered suitable for a U/A certificate.However, the certification process hit another snag when a censor board member reportedly raised internal objections, claiming that parts of the film might hurt public sentiment. After complaints, the process came to a standstill and the producers were advised to submit the film to a revision committee. Around the same time, unconfirmed reports suggested that the film’s release might affect Vijay’s political prospects ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, then scheduled for April 23.On January 6, production house KVN Productions moved the Madras High Court seeking directions to expedite the certification process.As delays stretched from weeks to months, producers argued in court that the long wait put the planned release in jeopardy. However, the legal intervention did not immediately break the deadlock. After nearly a month of proceedings reaching the Supreme Court, KVN Productions eventually withdrew the petition and opted to send the film to the revision committee.
‘Jana Nayagan’ leak sparks controversy
The controversy escalated further in April when a high-definition version of Jana Nayagan surfaced online even before the film received CBFC certification.Tamil Nadu police later arrested several people in connection with the leak, including a freelance film editor. During subsequent proceedings in the Madras High Court, prosecutors revealed that nearly 120,000 people had reportedly viewed the pirated copy before authorities successfully blocked access to it.Investigators claim the leaked version was assembled using footage copied from editing facilities and then circulated on piracy websites. Meanwhile, speculation surrounding the film has intensified on social media.Just a few days ago, a fake CBFC certificate claiming that “Jana Nayagan” had obtained an A certificate went viral. Account X who shared the document later admitted that the document was fabricated. It was later discovered that the fake certificate was created by modifying the censorship certificate of Vijay’s “Leo”, further adding to the confusion among fans.Rumors about the release date have also intensified after overseas distributors hinted at a July 24 premiere. Other reports suggest that the manufacturer is considering a July 23rd launch based on their final strategy. Prior to KVN Productions’ official announcement, Canadian exhibitor York Cinemas even announced an overseas release on July 24.Now that the certification process is finally over, attention has shifted to KVN Productions and an official theatrical release date is expected to be announced soon.“Jana Nayagan” is directed by H Vinoth and stars Vijay along with Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev MenonPrakash Raj and Narain. Widely considered to be Vijay’s last film before a full-time political career, the project aroused extraordinary anticipation, with its seven-month certification saga becoming one of the most talked-about dramas in Tamil cinema in recent years.