Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ controversy explained: From legal battles to piracy chaos

The first quarter of 2026 hasn’t truly been the start of the year that actor and TVK chief Vijay would have hoped for. The election year should have begun with a bang, with the release of his swansong film, Jana Nayagan, a heavily political action-entertainer that would have marked the beginning of a dramatic election campaign. However, the H Vinoth directorial has been marred by an ongoing controversy.

The film, which was originally slated for a festive release on January 9 ahead of Pongal, was postponed due to the delay in granting a censor certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the consequent legal battle.