Vijay's Jana Nayagan: Fake censor certificate sparks curiosity amid release buzz
A fake CBFC certificate for CM Vijay's Jana Nayagan circulated online, claiming the film had received an A rating. However, it was soon pointed out that the censor certificate for Leo had been edited to make it appear as Jana Nayagan's.
Rumours surrounding the certification of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's much-delayed film Jana Nayagan gathered pace on Saturday after a fake censor certificate claiming the film had received an A certificate began circulating on social media.
The edited certificate claimed that the H Vinoth directorial had been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Friday after a seven-month delay. It further alleged that the Vijay, Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde-starrer had a runtime of nearly three hours and listed several modifications, including muted cuss words, toned-down violence, blood splatter and scenes involving a character named "Collector Shanmugam."
The fake certificate triggered widespread speculation among fans eager for an update on the film's release. However, it was later confirmed that Jana Nayagan has not yet been certified by the CBFC.
Interestingly, eagle-eyed fans soon pointed out that the forged document was modelled on the original CBFC certificate issued for Vijay's 2023 film Leo. The fake certificate retained the same format and layout, with only the film-specific details altered to resemble a genuine censor document.
The fan account that first shared the certificate later admitted its mistake, posting on X, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. The previously shared #JanaNayagan certificate was fake."
KVN Productions has not commented on the incident. The production house continues to await the film's CBFC clearance, with reports suggesting that it could be out this week.
Why has Jana Nayagan been delayed?
Originally slated for a January 9 theatrical release, Jana Nayagan has remained in limbo for over seven months due to the pending certification process.
Court proceedings later revealed that the film was first submitted to the CBFC on December 19, 2025. After the examining committee sought modifications, the makers resubmitted the film in January. According to the production house, no decision followed despite repeated submissions.
The CBFC informed the court that the film had been referred to a revising committee after an examining committee member raised objections, effectively stalling the certification process. The prolonged delay resulted in a month-long legal standoff between the makers of Jana Nayagan and the CBFC. After a month in court, the makers of Vijay-starrer withdrew their petition and agreed to send the film to the revising committee.
In April, the controversy intensified after an HD print of the film leaked online, allowing nearly 1.2 crore people to watch it illegally before authorities managed to block access. Several arrests were subsequently made, including that of a freelance film editor accused of masterminding the leak.
Despite rumours of a June release coinciding with Vijay's birthday, the film remains uncertified. Since then, Vijay has won the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and assumed office as the state's Chief Minister, making Jana Nayagan his long-delayed final film release. The latest reports suggest that the film is likely to release later this month if it gets certified in a few days from now.
Rumours surrounding the certification of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's much-delayed film Jana Nayagan gathered pace on Saturday after a fake censor certificate claiming the film had received an A certificate began circulating on social media.
The edited certificate claimed that the H Vinoth directorial had been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Friday after a seven-month delay. It further alleged that the Vijay, Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde-starrer had a runtime of nearly three hours and listed several modifications, including muted cuss words, toned-down violence, blood splatter and scenes involving a character named "Collector Shanmugam."
The fake certificate triggered widespread speculation among fans eager for an update on the film's release. However, it was later confirmed that Jana Nayagan has not yet been certified by the CBFC.
Interestingly, eagle-eyed fans soon pointed out that the forged document was modelled on the original CBFC certificate issued for Vijay's 2023 film Leo. The fake certificate retained the same format and layout, with only the film-specific details altered to resemble a genuine censor document.
The fan account that first shared the certificate later admitted its mistake, posting on X, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. The previously shared #JanaNayagan certificate was fake."
KVN Productions has not commented on the incident. The production house continues to await the film's CBFC clearance, with reports suggesting that it could be out this week.
Why has Jana Nayagan been delayed?
Originally slated for a January 9 theatrical release, Jana Nayagan has remained in limbo for over seven months due to the pending certification process.
Court proceedings later revealed that the film was first submitted to the CBFC on December 19, 2025. After the examining committee sought modifications, the makers resubmitted the film in January. According to the production house, no decision followed despite repeated submissions.
The CBFC informed the court that the film had been referred to a revising committee after an examining committee member raised objections, effectively stalling the certification process. The prolonged delay resulted in a month-long legal standoff between the makers of Jana Nayagan and the CBFC. After a month in court, the makers of Vijay-starrer withdrew their petition and agreed to send the film to the revising committee.
In April, the controversy intensified after an HD print of the film leaked online, allowing nearly 1.2 crore people to watch it illegally before authorities managed to block access. Several arrests were subsequently made, including that of a freelance film editor accused of masterminding the leak.
Despite rumours of a June release coinciding with Vijay's birthday, the film remains uncertified. Since then, Vijay has won the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and assumed office as the state's Chief Minister, making Jana Nayagan his long-delayed final film release. The latest reports suggest that the film is likely to release later this month if it gets certified in a few days from now.
