After a long wait, ‘Jana Nayagan’ has got the reading certificate, clearing the last hurdle before its theatrical release. Directed by H. Vinothand Vijay-starrer was awarded an ‘A’ certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The approval, however, came only after they agreed to make several changes to the dialogue and visuals. The film, which marks Vijay’s last outing before his political career, has become one of the most talked about Tamil releases of the year, making the censor a major issue among fans.
12 changes that led to ‘Jana Nayagan’ CBFC certification
According to Hindustan Times, the CBFC has ordered the producers to implement 12 major changes before issuing the certificates. The changes reportedly include silencing or changing all references to TVK (Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam), removing scenes with the Indian national flag, changing dialogues involving Dr BR Ambedkar, and changing the cover of a book featuring his image. Religious references like “Bhagavathan,” “Ranganathar,” and “OM” were also blacked out in some places. As soon as it went viral on the internet, fans reacted strongly. Another user wrote, “At least the movie is releasing. That’s all that matters now.” Another said, “We have been waiting for months. Few changes will not stop us from watching Vijay’s last film.”
Political and visual dialogues are among the major changes in Vijay’s film
The report also stated that the CBFC had also interfered with the talks it claimed Saddam Hussein‘s execution is another line that translates to “I’m doing a secret festival in India.” A picture showing the badge of the District Collector’s office was removed, while further discussion of the opposition was muted. Scenes of the burning of children were allegedly edited, and the name “Sheela Rani” was changed wherever it appeared in the film. Fans, meanwhile, continued to express their joy despite the changes. “Censor cuts do not diminish our joy. We just want to meet Jana Nayagan on the big screen,” wrote one fan, while another wrote, “After so much trouble, July 24 can’t come soon enough.” In total, the edits are said to be around 20 seconds cut and 10 seconds edited, while the running time is 183 minutes and 11 seconds.
The delay of ‘Jana Nayagan’ ends as the release nears
“Jana Nayagan” was initially expected to hit theaters during the Pongal season earlier this year, but the certification process was delayed after objections arose over some scenes. The makers later went to court seeking permission, while the film faced another setback when the HD footage was uploaded online before its release. Despite the difficulties, the film finally received its review certificate, which paved the way for a theatrical release. Starring Vijay, Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Prakash Raj and Mamitha Baiju, the political drama is now set to hit the theaters on July 24, with fans eagerly counting what has been touted as Vijay’s farewell film.