Actor MP calls for transparency in CBFC certification process
January 10, 2026: As Jana Nayagan, Vijay’s much-awaited final film, missed its planned Pongal release after failing to obtain CBFC certification, support poured in from across the film industry. Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan weighed in after the Madras High Court granted an interim stay on an order directing the CBFC to issue certification, saying the controversy raised serious questions about transparency and accountability in the certification process.
In a strongly worded note shared on social media, Kamal Haasan invoked constitutional values, stressing that freedom of expression should never be undermined by opacity. He said the issue went beyond a single film, affecting the livelihoods of thousands across the cinema ecosystem, from technicians and exhibitors to small businesses. Kamal urged a principled review of the certification framework, calling for fixed timelines, transparent evaluations and written justifications for cuts or changes, while also appealing for constructive dialogue between the film fraternity and the government.
Explaining the dispute, producer Venkat K Narayana said the CBFC informed the makers days before release that Jana Nayagan would be sent to a revising committee, despite an examining committee earlier indicating a UA 16+ certificate. The producers moved the Madras High Court, which initially directed the CBFC to issue certification, but the order was stayed after a challenge. The case will be heard on January 21. Jana Nayagan is widely seen as Vijay’s last film before his full-time political entry with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.