Vijay's Jana Nayagan has faced yet another setback in the censor certificate issue as the board has deferred its decision on the film. According to sources, the board, which screened the film recently, has informed the production house that its verdict will be announced on Monday.

The development comes as a major disappointment to the film’s team, who were hopeful of securing the censor certificate immediately after the screening. The delay has further added to the challenges already surrounding the film’s release.

Directed by H Vinoth and starring Vijay, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain and Priyamani in key roles, the actioner was set for release in theatres during the Pongal festival in January. However, the multiple delays made it impossible for the film's release in theatres.

Adding to the woes, the film was recently leaked in its entirety on various illegal pirated sites, causing further distress to the makers.

The postponement was further extended due to the Tamil Nadu state assembly elections. With the elections now over, the makers had pushed for yet another screening of the film. But the recent decision from the censor board, combined with piracy-related complications, has made it difficult for the makers to move forward with an official release plan.

After a complaint was filed with the Chennai Cyber Crime police, officials arrested three people in connection to the leak. These arrests come after six people were arrested on April 12. In a press release, the Cyber Crime wing revealed that the main accused is a freelance editor who gained access to the film's footage and stole it. After rendering the footage, the accused shared the footage with the co-accused, leading to widespread circulation.

On April 24, the South Indian Film Editor's Association (SIFEA) announced that editor Pradeep E Ragav has been temporarily suspended, due to violation of the association's by-laws. It was revealed that the freelance editor was hired by him. Further investigations are currently underway.

As the team awaits the censor board's final decision, the future of Jana Nayagan's theatrical release remains uncertain. All eyes are now on Monday, when clarity on the film’s certification, and potentially its release timeline, is expected.