Madras High Court says Jan Nayakan producers put pressure on system to call early release
Madras High Court has temporarily stayed the issuance of U/A certificate for Vijay’s film Jana Nayakan. The court criticized the makers for fixing the release date without a certificate.
Vijay’s new film Jan Naygan It has run into another hurdle as the Madras High Court has asked the Censor Board to temporarily stop the certification of the film for the time being. During the second hearing on January 9, the court granted a temporary stay on the earlier order, directing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue U/A certificates. This means that the certificate will not be issued until the case has been fully heard.
The bench said that CBFC should have been given a fair opportunity to oppose the release of the film. During the second hearing today, the bench said in the court, “The board should have been given at least two-three days’ time.”
A division bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan also questioned the producers for fixing the release date before obtaining the certificate. The bench asked the producers, “How can you go ahead with the release of the film without a certificate? You cannot fix a date and put pressure on the system.”
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing KVN Productions, argued that even when the film was seen by the certification panel, a complaint was made by a member of the board. He reminded the court that Jan Naygan A release was planned for January 9. However, the bench said the manufacturers should have waited for the certificate and said, “You are creating haste and putting pressure on the court.”
The court also questioned the CBFC as to why it filed the appeal in such a hurry, “What was the hurry that you filed the appeal today?” With the case now listed for next hearing on January 21, the Pongal festival window for the release of the film is no longer possible.
Earlier today, Justice PT Asha had slammed the Film Board, terming the case as a “dangerous trend” and making an eleventh-hour change in the certification process. “After examining the materials, it is quite clear that the complainant’s complaint appears to be an afterthought,” he said.
Directed by H Vinoth, Jan Naygan Stars Thalapathy Vijay, Mamita Baiju and Pooja Hegde.