Amid controversy over the Central Board for Film Certification’s (CBFC) delay in clearing the Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan, Congress leaders have condemned the move, calling it a “systematic weakening of the right to free speech and expression.”
Congress leaders and MPs Jothimani and Manickam Tagore used social media to voice their criticism.
Jana Nayagan, widely believed to be Vijay’s final film as a leading hero, is a political action drama featuring him as an upright police officer combating corruption and extremism. Directed by H Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, the film was scheduled for a January 9 release. The cast also includes Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, and Priyamani.
However, the release was postponed because the CBFC had not yet granted the film its certification.
Karur MP Jothimani said, “Transcending our political affiliations, likes, and dislikes, every person who believes in freedom of expression must condemn this. A film is created with an investment of several crores of rupees and the hard work of hundreds of people. Attempting to stall it in this manner is completely contrary to creative freedom. Especially when it is stalled for political reasons, it is even more dangerous.”
She further said that the CBFC had joined the ranks of the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Income Tax department as political weapons for the Bharathiya Janata Party’s Union government.
Echoing these concerns, Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore said, “When RSS propaganda films get zero traction, zero credibility & zero public interest, the Modi–Shah regime responds with control, not confidence.
Now the film industry is in the crosshairs.”
He accused the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of systematically undermining the fundamental right to free speech and expression. “Institutions meant to protect democracy are reduced to tools of intimidation, while BJP-RSS propaganda is passed off as ‘culture’.
Cinema doesn’t need political clearance. It needs constitutional protection.
Democracy cannot survive when art is forced to kneel before power.”
MP Jothimani also criticised the CBFC as outdated in the digital age, pointing out that while the board censors films, thousands of uncensored videos and visuals continue to circulate freely on television, YouTube, and social media.
She further highlighted the board’s selective enforcement, “CBFC rules prohibit obscene speech or depictions of women, yet most films include such content. Speaking obscenely about women, portraying them indecently, and using double-meaning dialogues are considered violations according to censor rules. Yet the board rarely refuses certification.”
Following the certification delay, the makers of Jana Nayagan approached the Madras High Court seeking permission to release the film on its scheduled date.
On Thursday, January 8, KVN Productions announced that the release would be postponed, with no alternate date set.