With Vijay's much-anticipated film Jana Nayagan continuing to face legal hurdles, several celebrities have voiced their concern and stood in support of the film and its makers. Actor Mansoor Ali Khan has now slammed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for not granting clearance for the film's release and sarcastically questioned whether it would release only by Bakrid, if not for Pongal festival.
For the unversed, the film, which marks Vijay's final film outing before his full-fledged entry to politics, has been stuck in censor-related issues since December and was postponed from its initial release of January 9, ahead of Pongal festival.
Calling for autonomy in the Censor Board, the actor asserted that the board should comprise four directors, along with actors, producers, journalists, and other well-intentioned individuals who represent the collective conscience of the film industry. He stressed that it should not function under the control of the Central government. "If it continues to remain under such control, there is no need for a Censor Board at all," he said, venting out his frustration during a recent press interaction.
"This is a distressing incident. Vijay is a mass hero. The legal issues are continuing to go in a loop. What is even happening in this country? Nobody should face this scenario. The producers would have invested hundreds of crores in making and distributing the film. They can release films like The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Story and other films laced with religious overtones and propaganda, that disturb social harmony. How did they allow them to be released? What wrong has he (Vijay) done?" Mansoor Ali Khan questioned, noting that he stands for justice and wants to voice out concerns that go against them.
On January 27, the Madras High Court's Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan passed an order setting aside the single judge's directive given by PT Asha, directing Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue U/A 16+ certificate to the movie. The court annulled the earlier order that had directed the grant of a censor certificate to the film without referring it to a revising committee, observing that the single judge should have allowed time for filing a counter-affidavit.
According to reports, KVN Productions, which is backing the film, has decided to abandon the case in their next hearing at the Madras High Court's Single single judge, Justice PT Asha, and subsequently go to the Revising Committee, as the Censor Board recently recommended. A confirmation is awaited from the makers and the court.
With the state elections around the corner, the film's postponement could become a major setback for Vijay and his party. If the voting dates are announced and Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force, Jana Nayagan would be held back from release until the end of the elections.
Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan, which marks Vijay's final film outing before his entry to politics, stars an ensemble cast which includes Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Pooja Hegde, Narain and others. On the technical crew, it has as music composed by Anirudh, camera work by Sathyan Sooryan and editing by Pradeep E Ragav. It is co-produced by by Jagadish Palanisamy and Lohith NK.
