The release journey of Jana Nayagan has turned into a real-life drama off screen. Just days before its much-awaited Pongal release, the Thalapathy Vijay starrer was suddenly pushed back, leaving fans stunned and theatres scrambling. What followed was a mix of legal questions, social media speculation, and mounting anticipation. Now, amid the censor controversy and court proceedings, a fresh update from the film’s distributors has finally brought some clarity for audiences eagerly waiting to watch Vijay’s next on the big screen.

January 9 release date postponed

Directed by H. Vinoth and starring Vijay alongside Pooja Hegde and Mamitha Baiju, Jana Nayagan was originally scheduled to hit theatres on January 9. However, barely two days before release, the makers announced a postponement, triggering disappointment across cinema halls and online fan communities. The decision was formally shared by the film’s producer, KVN Productions LLP, through a statement on X. The production house cited circumstances beyond its control for the delay and acknowledged the massive anticipation surrounding the film.

Release date announcement by distributor

Amid this uncertainty, SSR Entertainment, the distributors of Jana Nayagan in Kerala, stepped in with a concrete update. Through a post on X, they officially confirmed that the film will release on January 14 in the state, giving fans at least one clear date to look forward to.

Why has the movie been postponed?

During a Madras High Court hearing, a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan heard the CBFC’s appeal, PTI reported. ASG Sundaresan and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing via video call, said the board needed time to review the censor certificate due to references to the Army and religious sentiments. They requested the appeal be taken up immediately, and the bench agreed, even though the CBFC had not yet filed a counter-affidavit.

About Jana Nayagan

Jana Nayagan is an upcoming Tamil-language political action thriller directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions. The film features Vijay in the lead, with Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol and Mamitha Baiju playing key roles. The ensemble cast also includes Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain and Priyamani. The project holds special significance as it is expected to be Vijay’s final film before his entry into politics and marks KVN Productions’ first Tamil venture. Announced in September 2024 as Thalapathy 69, the official title was revealed in January 2025. The music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, reuniting with Vijay for the fifth time and collaborating with H. Vinoth for the first time.