With actor-politician Vijay's swansong Jana Nayagan set for a theatrical release on January 9, a controversy originating on social media suggests that the film has not yet been certified due to the 'political bias' of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
It is being widely circulated that since Vijay has decided to contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Election as the chief minister candidate under his political outfit Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and refused to budge to multiple attempts made by the BJP to bring his party into the ranks of NDA. There are insinuations that the ruling BJP dispensation at the Centre is influencing CBFC to tarry the certification process and thereby delay the release of Jana Nayagan.
However, in the usual practice of film certification, a film gets certified a few days ahead of the release. With still a week to go for the release of H Vinoth's action thriller, the film is expected to clear censorship formalities soon.
The film, marking the first collaboration between Vijay and H Vinoth, is the actor’s last film before his political plunge in the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.
Jana Nayagan also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Priyamani, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Mamitha Baiju, and Narain. The film reunites Vijay with Prakash Raj after Varisu, Pooja after Beast, and Gautham Vasudev Menon after Leo.
On the technical side, the film has music by Anirudh, cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan, editing by Pradeep E Ragav, action choreography by Anl Arasu, and art direction by Selva Kumar.
The film is simultaneously releasing in Hindi (Jan Neta) and Telugu (Jana Nayakudu).