Did Canada distributor give clues on release date of Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan'?

While clarity has yet to emerge on Thalapathy Vijay's last outing as hero, Jana Nayagan, in India, clues are coming up halfway around the globe.

Canada-based York Cinemas, which distributes Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi films in the north American nation, posted an update on X that the Tamil-language tentpole, also starring Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju and Prakash Raj, will not be releasing before April 30.

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The company also said refunds for existing bookings will be offered at the earliest, and updates will be offered once the new release date is confirmed.

Made at a reported budget of Rs 300 billion, Jana Nayagan, was originally slated to release on January 9, for the Pongal festival in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, when big budget movies make a beeline for theatres.

Run-ins with India's film certification board, the Central Board of Film Certification, and a prolonged court battle over its suitability for mass viewing, have resulted in delays.

Never-ending legal woes

KVN Productions, which bankrolled the movie, had submitted the movie for certification in December, and an examining committee recommended it be given a U/A 16+ certificate—or unrestricted public exhibition, but with parental discretion for children below 16—after minor edits.

The CBFC later withheld its certification on the grounds that certain scenes in the movie could hurt religious sentiments, following an anonymous complaint. A judge then asked the CBFC to give the film a U/A 16+ certificate. The board, however, moved the Madras High Court to get a stay on the order.

This led the producers to approach India's Supreme Court, asking for an urgent stay on the High Court's decision. However, the apex court refused to intervene. In February, the producer withdrew its petition against the CBFC.

Vijay is one of Tamil cinema’s most bankable stars, and his films guarantee high openings and footfalls. Theatres and multiplexes across India started issuing refunds, after registering record ticket bookings in the run-up to the original release date.

Jana Nayagan is directed by H Vinoth, who previously helmed the critically acclaimed police procedural Dheeran Adhigaaram Onru, Nerkonda Paarvai, the Tamil remake of the Bollywood movie Pink; and Valimai and Thunivu, starring Ajith Kumar. Anirudh Ravichander (think Coolie, Jawan, Vettaiyan, Devara and Leo) is its music composer.