On January 9, 2026, the Madras High Court, through Justice P.T. Asha, delivered a significant ruling in favor of KVN Productions LLP, ordering the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant a U/A 16+ certificate for the much-anticipated Vijay-starrer 'Jana Nayagan'. The court deemed the CBFC chairperson's decision to refer the film to a revising committee as 'without jurisdiction' and characterized the complaint from an examining committee member as an 'afterthought'. The film, directed by H. Vinoth and starring Vijay, Pooja Hegde, and Mamitha Baiju, was originally slated for a Pongal release on January 9, 2026. However, its release was postponed due to a protracted censor dispute. KVN Productions moved the High Court after the CBFC, despite an initial recommendation for a U/A certificate following 27 suggested cuts, referred the film for further review based on a lone member's objections regarding religious sentiments and the portrayal of armed forces. Producers stated they had invested nearly ₹500 crore, with over 2 lakh tickets already sold, making the delay financially crippling. Immediately after the single judge's order, the CBFC chairperson filed an urgent appeal before the Chief Justice's Bench, which agreed to consider the plea. This appeal effectively placed a stay on the single judge's directive, leaving the film's pan-India release in limbo. While the nationwide release remains uncertain, distributors in Kerala, SSR Entertainment, have announced a January 14 release for 'Jana Nayagan' in their state. The controversy has gained significant traction, especially as 'Jana Nayagan' is widely believed to be Vijay's final film before his full-time entry into politics, leading to speculation about political motivations behind the censorship delay.