After months of uncertainty, ‘Jana Nayagan’ is finally gearing up for its worldwide release on July 23. The film, starring Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay in what is expected to be his final film before his full-time political journey, was originally planned for a Pongal release. However, the project remained stuck for nearly six months due to delays in obtaining its censor certificate. Since the release date is fixed, director H Vinoth has come out with information on the various obstacles his team faced that delayed the movie, how the problem was overcome, and also addressed the controversy surrounding the film’s leaked version.

H Vinoth reveals why ‘Jana Nayagan’ release was delayed

Speaking about the censor process in an interview with Cinema Vikatan, H Vinoth said the team had started the certification work much earlier than usual. “Normally, we begin the censor process around 10 days before release. This time, we started nearly 20 days in advance. The board watched the film immediately and told us there was no issue with the movie itself. They agreed to give us a U/A 16+ certificate if we removed a few violent scenes. We accepted their suggestions and began making those changes,” he said.The director explained that the edits involved CGI work, which required an extra day. “After completing those changes, we returned with the updated version. At that point, we were asked to make a few more edits. We agreed to those as well. But when we tried to upload the revised version, we could not access the online portal. We informed them through phone calls and emails and even contacted the head office,” Vinoth added.

H Vinoth says uncertainty over censor process added to the delay

According to H. Vinoth, the team later learned that a complaint had been filed against the film, which resulted in the process being put on hold. “We were told that the portal was blocked because of a complaint received against the film. By then, theatres, distributors and fans had already spent huge amounts preparing for the release. We had to answer everyone, but we ourselves did not know whether the film would receive its certificate or not,” he said.He further claimed that the team decided to approach the court only after repeated attempts to get clarity failed. “We did not receive either an approval or a rejection. Only after filing the case did we get a response saying the film would be re-examined. I believe the problem was never with the Censor Board. There may have been other reasons behind the delay, but without evidence, I cannot name anyone. The law has its own powers, and I do not want to make allegations without proof,” H Vinoth stated.

H Vinoth also addresses the ‘Jana Nayagan’ leak controversy

Apart from the censor delay, H Vinoth also opened up about the film’s piracy issue and explained why Vijay chose not to react publicly. “Vijay sir didn’t tweet because it would’ve turned into unnecessary criticism. We handled it legally, found the person responsible, and he’s now behind bars. Bail hasn’t been granted,” the director said. He further clarified that the leak was treated purely as a legal matter and was investigated by the police after a complaint was filed. “I think Vijay sir did not involve himself because it may have deviated the matter and led to criticism,” Vinoth added. With both the censor hurdles and piracy controversy now behind them, ‘Jana Nayagan’ is all set for its much-awaited theatrical release on July 23, with fans eagerly waiting to see Vijay’s final film on the big screen.