The Madras High Court on Tuesday permitted the producers of Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay, to withdraw its plea against the Censor Board.
The court also stated that the Censor Board is free to proceed with the review of the much-anticipated movie by a Revising Committee.
KVN Productions, the banner behind Jana Nayagan, hopes its decision would pave way for the release of the film as soon as possible. Now that the plea has been withdrawn, chances are that makers can ask the board to fast track the certification.
A member of the legal team told NDTV, "We have already sent the film for review by the Revising Committee. We want to release the film in February."
The board had expressed issues with the scenes related to the Indian Army. There was also a concern about the depiction of violence and religion in the film.
There is no official word on the financial losses faced by the makers of Jana Nayagan, which is reportedly mounted on a Rs 300 crore budget. The makers hope the film will be a blockbuster when it releases, making up for both time and money.
The development comes after KVN Productions, the banner behind Jana Nayagan, went to court to withdraw its writ petition against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The production house will now submit the film for review before the Revising Committee of the Censor Board.
Touted as Vijay's swansong before he turns a full-time politician, Jana Nayagan was originally set to be a worldwide theatrical release on January 9, exactly a month ago.
According to sources, the Jana Nayagan team is hoping to release the film at the earliest possible date. The upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election, which Vijay is eyeing as the official entry of his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is also a factor.
Producers, some indicate, could now racing against time to secure certification and aim for a release ahead of Valentine's Day or the next Friday banking on the Revising Committee's review to resolve the impasse quickly.
Beyond certification hurdles, political timelines are adding urgency. With the Election Commission expected to announce the poll schedule soon and Vijay widely tipped to enter electoral politics, producers are wary of potential hurdles under the Model Code of Conduct, especially given reports that the film carries political messaging.
Some observers have drawn parallels with the Election Commission's 2019 decision to halt the release of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. However, TVK sources maintain that Jana Nayagan is a work of fiction and cannot be compared to a political biopic.
KVN Productions had challenged the Censor Board's decision in court after it sent the film to the Revising Committee, even though the Examining Committee had cleared it for certification with more than 20 recommended cuts..
A single judge initially ruled in the favour of the filmmakers, granting them the UA certificate but the Censor Board appealed successfully against the verdict, following which the Division Bench reversed the order, citing insufficient time to submit a counter affidavit.
The makers also went to the Supreme Court which eventually scrapped the producers' plea and asked them to go to the Madras High Court after they pressed for expeditious hearing. The Madras High Court then set aside the single judge order, further delaying its release.
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