Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's much-awaited film Jana Nayagan is expected to hit theatres in July, with its long-awaited censor certificate likely to be issued this weekend, according to sources.
The film has faced months of delay due to complications in the certification process.
Sources had earlier told NDTV in May that the Revising Committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had cleared the movie, bringing it a step closer to release.
Although the film was initially reviewed by the CBFC's Examining Committee in December 2025, which recommended a few cuts that the makers said they implemented, the certification process stalled after a member of the committee reportedly objected to certain scenes and wrote to CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi.
Following the objections, the CBFC referred the film to its Revising Committee for another review.
The delay prompted the film's director to seek legal intervention, first approaching the Madras High Court and later the Supreme Court over the pending certification.
According to sources, the certificate was also held back because of the Model Code of Conduct. The producers are now waiting for the final censor certificate before announcing the official release date.
The film has attracted widespread attention because it stars sitting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, making it one of the most anticipated Tamil releases in recent years.
Producer Venkat K Narayana, founder of KVN Productions, recently told NDTV that the team is ready to release the film as soon as the CBFC issues the final certificate.
"We are awaiting the certificate from the CBFC. Once they give their final approval, we will immediately release the film in theatres," he said.
Venkat also said Vijay's political rise has given the film's title a new significance. He noted that many fans have suggested replacing the opening title "Thalapathy Vijay" with "Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu."
"When we started the film, we never imagined this situation. It is a happy moment that Vijay sir has become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and truly the 'Jana Nayagan' (People's Leader) of the state. Perhaps it was destined that the film would release after he became Chief Minister," he said.
Explaining the certification delay, Venkat said the film was initially expected to receive a U/A 16+ certificate after the Examining Committee completed its review in December 2025.
However, instead of receiving the certificate, the producers were informed that a complaint had been filed against the film, leading the CBFC to refer it to the Revising Committee.
The producers challenged the move in court, arguing that objections had been raised before the film's release. During the proceedings, they learned that the complaint had reportedly come from a member of the Examining Committee, who had earlier approved the film.
Venkat said the producers immediately applied to the Revising Committee and have since been completing the required formalities while waiting for the final certificate.
Directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, Jana Nayagan also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol and Mamitha Baiju.
The film recently made headlines after an illegal online leak. According to PTI, a freelance assistant editor and several others were arrested in connection with the incident.
Source: NDTV