Ameer Sultan Comments on Delay of Vijay's Final Film Jana Nayagan The release of actor and TVK chief Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan, has remained uncertain as it faces delays tied to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Filmmaker Ameer Sultan recently addressed the issue, suggesting that political factors may be influencing the film’s certification process. Originally slated for a theatrical release on January 9, the film was postponed indefinitely after failing to secure its censor certificate. Sultan emphasized that the situation appears unprecedented, as the Censor Board’s involvement with the Election Commission is not a standard practice. Sultan highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding the film’s delays, noting that the CBFC has not provided clear reasons for holding the project back. He pointed to past controversies, such as the case of Vishwaroopam, where certain scenes were removed due to allegations of portraying a minority community as terrorists. Sultan argued that the current situation lacks clarity, with both the film’s creators and the Censor Board withholding specific details. “There is a significant political angle being concealed,” he stated, suggesting that the delay may be tied to Vijay’s upcoming political career with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. The film, directed by H Vinoth, stars Vijay, Prakash Raj, Pooja Hegde, and Mamitha Baiju. It was billed as Vijay’s farewell project before he transitions to politics. The production team initially announced the postponement of the release, citing “unforeseen circumstances” and awaiting further updates. However, the prolonged certification process has disrupted the film’s release plans, international schedules, and distribution agreements.#central_board_of_film_certification #h_vinoth #vijay #tamilaga_vettri_kazhagam #ameer_sultan
The Indian theatrical release of Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” has been blocked by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), according to the film’s distributor. The film, which recounts the story of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed in a Gaza car attack, is being censored due to its political sensitivity, distributor Manoj Nandwana of Jai Viratra Entertainment told Variety. Nandawana submitted the film for censorship approval in February and had planned a March 6 release to coincide with the March 16 Oscars. However, the CBFC has not cleared the film, with a member reportedly warning that its release “would break up the India-Israel relationship.” Nandawana disputed this claim, stating that the film has already been released in the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, and other countries with strong ties to Israel. The CBFC did not respond to Variety’s request for comment. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September and won the Silver Lion, has faced challenges in India despite its international success. Last year, the CBFC also halted the release of Indian director Sandya Suri’s Oscar-shortlisted film “Santosh,” which explored caste and religious tensions in northern India. The censorship of “The Voice of Hind Rajab” comes amid heightened diplomatic ties between India and Israel. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February visit to Israel marked the first such trip by an Indian leader in 25 years, strengthening economic and technological partnerships. Modi’s support for Israel contrasts with India’s historical alignment with Palestinian causes, raising questions about the CBFC’s decision to block the film’s release.#venice_film_festival #central_board_of_film_certification #manoj_nandwana #hind_rajab #jai_viratra_entertainment
Indian film board blocks release of Oscar-nominated Gaza drama The Voice of Hind Rajab The Indian film board has blocked the release of The Voice of Hind Rajab, an Oscar-nominated Tunisian documentary about the death of a five-year-old girl during the Israel-Gaza war. The film’s Indian distributor, Manoj Nandwana of Jai Viratra Entertainment, reported that authorities warned the screening of the film by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania could harm India-Israel relations. Nandwana submitted the film to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in February, aiming for a mid-March release ahead of the Academy Awards, but it has not been approved. He expressed skepticism about the claim, stating, “The India-Israel relationship is so strong that it’s idiotic to think this movie will break it.” The Voice of Hind Rajab details the death of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old girl, in January 2024, as her family fled bombing in Gaza City. The film incorporates the actual audio of Rajab’s panicked phone conversation with emergency operators, with the latter performed by actors. It was nominated for the best international feature film Oscar alongside It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, and Sentimental Value, but did not win. India’s government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consistently supported Israel since the 7 October attacks, becoming one of the first nations to issue a statement in response. Modi’s recent two-day visit to Israel in February saw the signing of numerous agreements. The CBFC, however, has a history of blocking politically sensitive films.#central_board_of_film_certification #kaouther_ben_hania #hind_rajab #india_israel_relations #jai_viratra_entertainment
The Voice of Hind Rajab, an Oscar-nominated film depicting the killing of a 5-year-old girl by Israeli forces during the 2024 Gaza conflict, has been denied certification by India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), according to the film’s distributor, Manoj Nandwana. The theatrical ban was first reported by Hollywood trade publication Variety on March 19, 2026. Nandwana told The Hindu he anticipated the rejection, citing the film’s lack of approval from multiple festivals that require clearance from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for movies without CBFC certification. He declined to pursue legal action against the decision, noting he had not received a written rejection from the CBFC. “Previously, we submitted a film called Land Jihad, and the Censor Board explicitly warned it could cause communal issues before rejecting it in writing,” he said. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the CBFC did not respond to The Hindu’s inquiries. A senior official revealed the film has been referred to a Revising Committee within the CBFC for review. Over the past two years, the board has censored films with progressive political messaging, often removing references to real-life political events or figures. While right-wing cinema has also faced heavy censorship, its core messages have generally survived the process, according to cutlists reviewed by The Hindu. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor condemned the ban as “disgraceful,” arguing that screening films reflects societal freedom of expression and is unrelated to diplomatic relations. He criticized the government for banning films that could harm foreign ties, calling it “unworthy of a mature democracy.#shashi_tharoor #central_board_of_film_certification #voice_of_hind_rajab #manoj_nandwana #bengaluru_international_film_festival
Why KD The Devil Song Row Is Really About Cinema’s Old Misogyny The Hindi version of the song “Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke” from the upcoming pan-India action drama KD: The Devil vanished from YouTube within two days. Complaints about its sexually explicit lyrics led to swift action, with authorities labeling the track as vulgar, obscene, and unfit for public circulation. The National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Google. A criminal complaint was also filed with the Delhi Police Cyber Cell. Advocate Vineet Jindal separately approached the CBFC and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The speed of the backlash is notable, as is the trigger for it. Indian cinema has long normalized the objectification of women, often placing them at the center of the frame while subjecting them to male attention and reducing their roles to glamour, provocation, and desirability. What made “Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke” particularly contentious was not its novelty but its unflinching reinforcement of a familiar, yet deeply problematic, formula. The song’s lyrics made the underlying logic of this structure too explicit to be dismissed as harmless. Released on March 14 in five languages—Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam—the song appears in KD: The Devil, primarily shot in Kannada and directed by Prem, produced by KVN Productions. The film stars Dhruva Sarja, Sanjay Dutt, and Shilpa Shetty, with music by Arjun Janya, and is set for a multi-language theatrical release on April 30.#central_board_of_film_certification #kvn_productions #ministry_of_electronics_and_information_technology #national_human_rights_commission #delhi_police_cyber_cell
The review screening of actor Vijay's upcoming film Jana Nayagan by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been postponed, according to sources. Originally scheduled to take place on Monday, the event was delayed due to the illness of a committee member. The CBFC will now convene a revising committee to re-examine the film before issuing its final certification. A CBFC board member will oversee the process, with a new set of advisory panel members joining the committee for the screening. The exact date for the rescheduled review has not yet been announced. The production house, KVN Productions, received notification of the postponement on Sunday. The delay follows complications in the certification process, which initially pushed back the film's original release date of January 9. Earlier, the CBFC had reviewed the film in December 2025 and recommended certain edits, which the makers implemented. However, the issue resurfaced when a member of the original evaluating committee filed a complaint alleging the film offended religious sentiments and failed to consult the armed forces before using their logos. In response, the CBFC chairperson referred the film to a revising committee for re-evaluation. In January, KVN Productions had also filed a petition with the Madras High Court challenging the CBFC's decision to send the film for a fresh review. Recently, the producers submitted a request to withdraw the petition from the court registry. Jana Nayagan features an ensemble cast including Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Pooja Hegde, and Narain. The film's certification process has been marked by repeated delays and legal challenges, highlighting the complexities of navigating regulatory scrutiny in the film industry.#central_board_of_film_certification #kvn_productions #jana_nayagan #madras_high_court #bobby_deol
Jana Nayagan Censor Row: Vijay’s Film Faces New Delay in Revising Committee Screening Vijay’s much-anticipated final film, Jana Nayagan, has encountered another obstacle as its review by the Revising Committee was postponed due to a committee member’s illness. Originally scheduled for March 9, the screening was canceled at the last minute, leaving the film’s certification and release date uncertain. This delay follows earlier controversies over the depiction of religious practices and the use of army symbols in the film. The film, starring Vijay, has remained in the news due to ongoing censorship issues. Concerns about specific scenes led to objections, and the film was expected to be reviewed by the Central Board of Film Certification’s Revising Committee on March 9. Fans and industry insiders had hoped the review would resolve the certification status and pave the way for the film’s theatrical release. However, the sudden cancellation of the screening has disappointed fans, who had anticipated a swift resolution. The delay in the review process has added to the uncertainty surrounding the film’s release. Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan holds special significance as Vijay has announced it as his final film before focusing on politics through his party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam. The film features a star-studded cast, including Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Pooja Hegde, and Narain. Originally set for a January 9 release, the film’s release has been postponed indefinitely due to the pending certification. The censorship issues began when Jana Nayagan was first reviewed by the Central Board of Film Certification in December 2025. The board reportedly requested changes, but an ex-member of the original committee filed a complaint.#vijay #revising_committee #central_board_of_film_certification #tamizhaga_vetri_kazhagam #h_vinoth
