'Jana Nayagan': Supreme Court refuses to consider plea, asks Madras HC to decide matter

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for K V N Productions LLP, submitted before a bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma that publicity has already been done, and people will not wait for three months.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to consider a plea by the producer of actor-turned politician Vijay’s swansong Jana Nayagan against the Madras High Court's interim stay on a single-judge order to grant censor board clearance to the movie.

The court, however, asked the High Court to decide the matter on January 20. The film was earlier scheduled to be released on January 9.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for K V N Productions LLP, the film's producer, submitted before a bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma that publicity has already been done, and people will not wait for three months.

The bench, however, asked the counsel to raise his point before the HC's division bench.

Rohatgi urged the bench to ask the high court to decide the matter on January 20. He said that a film is a perishable item, and it would cause "serious injury" if the matter is delayed.

“Otherwise, I am sunk anyway. I have lost everything,” he submitted, adding that it was a long-settled industry practice to announce the release date before CBFC clearance. He said that over 5000 theatres were booked.

"We would welcome all the judges to dispose of the matters within a day or two of its filing. But this should happen in all cases. This is a blistering pace...matter filed on 6th, decided on 7th...when the matter is fixed before the division bench on 20th," the bench said.

When the division bench has listed the matter for January 20, 2026, there is no need for the apex court to interfere now, the bench said.

On January 9, 2026, the Madras High Court stayed a single judge's order that had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant a U/A certificate to Jana Nayagan.

The HC then said the CBFC was not given enough time to respond before the earlier order was passed. The bench observed that there was no real urgency and said the producers appeared to be putting pressure on the court by fixing a release date without having a censor certificate.