Hyderabad: Veteran actor and Rajya Sabha member Kamal Haasan has strongly criticised the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for its lack of transparency in handling the certification process for actor-politician Thalapathy Vijay’s upcoming film ‘Jana Nayagan’, which has led to its postponement from the planned Pongal release.
In a detailed statement shared on social media via a note on his official Rajya Sabha letterhead, Haasan emphasised the broader implications for artistic freedom and constitutional rights. He captioned the post: “For Art, For Artists, For the Constitution.”
The veteran wrote, “India’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, guided by reason, never diminished by opacity. This moment is larger than any one film; it reflects the space we accord art and artists in a constitutional democracy.”
He highlighted that cinema involves a vast ecosystem — including writers, technicians, performers, exhibitors, and small businesses — whose livelihoods depend on a fair and timely certification process.
“When clarity is absent, creativity is constrained, economic activity is disrupted, and public trust is weakened,” he stated.
Haasan praised Ta
mil Nadu and India’s cinema audiences for their “passion, discernment, and maturity,” asserting they “deserve openness and respect.”
Calling for a ‘principled relook’ at the certification process with ‘defined timelines for certification, transparent evaluation, and written, reasoned justification’ for the cuts and modifications, the veteran concluded, “Such reform will safeguard creative freedom, uphold constitutional values, and strengthen India’s democratic institutions by affirming trust in its artists and its people.”
The controversy surrounding ‘Jana Nayagan’ — directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions — escalated after the film was submitted to the CBFC in December 2025. Although an examining committee reportedly recommended a U/A 16+ certificate with minor changes, the board referred it to a revising committee following objections, leading to delays. The producers approached the Madras High Court, where a single judge initially directed the CBFC to issue the certificate on January 9. However, the CBFC appealed, and a division bench granted an interim stay the same day, halting certification pending the next hearing on January 21.
This development dashed hopes for a Pongal release, prompting widespread support from the Tamil film industry, including actors and directors who rallied behind Vijay and the film’s team.
‘Jana Nayagan’ is widely regarded as Vijay’s final film before he fully transitions to politics with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which plans to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections independently.