Pawan Kalyan Says ‘Jana Nayagan’ Makers Shouldn’t Have Taken Censor Board Issue to Court
Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM says film certification issues should not be linked to politics while addressing delay in CBFC approval.
Chennai: Actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has weighed in on the ongoing dispute between the makers of the film Jana Nayagan and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), saying the situation could have been handled differently and should not have been taken to court.
In an interview with Thanthi TV, Kalyan said it was unfair to blame the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for the delay in the film receiving its certification.
The movie, directed by H. Vinoth and starring Vijay, was initially scheduled for a theatrical release on January 9 but has been postponed indefinitely as it awaits clearance from the certification board.
Reflecting on his own experiences with the CBFC, Kalyan said filmmakers often have to comply with the board’s guidelines regardless of their political affiliations.
He cited his upcoming film OG as an example, explaining that the board had granted it an “A” certificate due to the level of violence depicted in the film.
According to Kalyan, the film’s producers initially expected a U/A rating, but he told them that certification decisions are based on established rules and cannot be altered because of someone’s political position.
The actor-politician said the makers of OG later reapplied in the hope of receiving a different classification, but the CBFC again issued an “A” certificate.
Kalyan added that even if he attempted to use political influence, the board would make it clear that government authority and film certification operate independently.
He also shared that he had previously been asked by the board to modify song lyrics in one of his films, which he complied with, noting that such requirements are common in the film industry.
Commenting on the controversy surrounding Jana Nayagan, Kalyan said the filmmakers should not have approached the judiciary over the issue.
According to him, once a matter is taken to court, the outcome becomes subject to legal proceedings rather than administrative resolution.
The film features an ensemble cast including Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Pooja Hegde and Narain.
Reports have also suggested that the film may contain elements inspired by the Telugu movie Bhagavanth Kesari, though the makers have not officially confirmed the speculation.
The technical crew includes music composer Anirudh Ravichander, cinematographer Sathyan Sooryan and editor Pradeep E. Ragav. The film is produced by KVN Productions along with producers Jagadish Palanisamy and Lohith NK.
