07 January,2026 10:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Thalapathy Vijay
Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan is one of the most anticipated films of 2026. However, the film has landed in trouble due to a delay in CBFC certification. The makers had approached the Madras High Court, which on Wednesday reserved its order on a petition seeking a direction to the CBFC to grant a censor certificate under the âUA 16+' category. While an official statement from the makers is awaited, international distributors have confirmed that the film has been postponed.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday evening, Malik Streams Corporation, the Malaysian distributor of the film, shared the update. The note stated that further updates from the production team are being awaited. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the initial release of Jana Nayagan, scheduled for January 9, 2026, has been postponed to a later date. We are currently awaiting further updates from the production team. Once the new release date is confirmed, official announcements will be shared through our authorised platforms," it read.
RFT Films, the movie's overseas distributor, also made the announcement in a post on X. The poster of the movie read "Release postponed," with the caption, "Even a lion takes two steps back before the final leap."
After completing all post-production work, the makers submitted the film for certification on December 18. The following day, on December 19, the examining committee of the censor board reportedly suggested the removal of certain scenes and the muting of some dialogues.
The production house, in its submission to the court, said that despite implementing all the changes recommended by the board members, the censor certificate has still not been issued.
While there is no official word from the makers yet, theatres have started pulling down shows of the film and replacing them with The RajaSaab, starring Prabhas. A delayed verdict from the Madras High Court will now indefinitely delay the film's release.
Directed by H. Vinoth, the project boasts a promising ensemble cast, including Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani, and Narain in significant roles, along with others.
The trailer of the film was released on January 3. It features Vijay as a fearless police officer taking on Bobby Deol's tyrannical character in a high-intensity political action drama.
