‘Dragging BJP Unnecessarily’: Annamalai Reacts After Oppn Blames Centre Over Jana Nayagan Row

Vijay film Jana Nayagan faces online leak and piracy row, BJP and Congress trade charges over CBFC and Amit Shah, CBFC denies leak, release remains delayed amid legal dispute.

BJP leader K Annamalai speaks on the alleged online leak of Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan. (IANS/X)

After row sparked over Jana Nayagan, Vijay’s final film, getting leaked online, BJP leader K Annamalai slammed the TVK for “unnecessarily dragging” the BJP into the issue.

Speaking to reporters during a BJP rally in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Annamalai said: “Whoever leaked the film Jana Nayagan, it is completely wrong. As far as I am concerned, I will go and watch the film only after it is officially released in theatres. Aadhaarjuna is unnecessarily dragging the Bharatiya Janata Party and my brother L. Murugan into this issue. This should not be mixed with politics.”

The remarks came after Thalapathy Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan fell prey to online piracy with leaked clips circulating across digital platforms and websites. Following the incident, the producers issued a firm statement condemning the unauthorised sharing of the film’s content. The producers asked viewers who had come across the leaked clips to refrain from engaging with it further and to delete any copies immediately.

Following the incident, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) general secretary Aadhav Arjuna called the “leak” as a “joint conspiracy” of Union Minister of State L Murugan and Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

“Minister Murugan is the one who didn’t release the movie. Now, he has joined hands with Udhayanidhi Stalin to leak portions from the movie,” he alleged.

Responding to the remarks, BJP leader Annamalai said: “I hold a responsible position in the BJP, so I will watch the film only in theatres. I urge all of you also not to watch the film through illegal means. For political gain, do not drag Union Minister L. Murugan into this issue. Instead, file a proper complaint at the police station and ensure strict action is taken against those responsible.”

Meanwhile, the CBFC issued a statement saying, “Reports claiming that the Tamil film ‘Jana Nayagan’ was leaked from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) are baseless and misleading.”

“CBFC has clarified that it follows a secure KDM (Key Delivery Message) system for all theatrical films submitted for certification. Access to the content is password-protected, and the KDM remains solely with the producer/filmmaker. Without a valid KDM, the film cannot be accessed or viewed. The DCP (Digital Cinema Package) of “Jana Nayagan” was handed over to the applicant in Mumbai on 17 March with due acknowledgement, and has remained with them since,” it stated.

Congress Accuses Amit Shah Of ‘Controlling Indian Cinema’

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Saturday accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of “controlling Indian Cinema” as Jana Nayagan film is yet to be released due to issues between the producers and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

“Amit Shah is controlling Indian cinema, CBFC under Centre’s control failed to secure Jana Nayagan film,” Tagore told reporters.

Directed by H.Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, Jana Nayagan marks Vijay’s final film before his entry into politics. It also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol and Mamitha Baiju, alongside Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain and Priyamani.

Jana Nayagan, one of the highly anticipated film of the year, has been making headlines following an unexpected postponement of its theatrical debut. The film initially slated to release on January 9, encountered delays due to complications in securing clearance from the censor authorities. The production team is yet to confirm a revised release date.

There are speculations across social media platforms suggesting that the film’s streaming partner had backed out of the agreement because the theatrical release timeline was not met.

Legal Trouble With CBFC

The delay traces back to the film’s dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Jana Nayagan was originally slated for a January 9 release. However, certification issues led to a legal battle between the makers and the board.

On January 27, a division bench of the Madras High Court set aside a January 9 order by a single judge that had directed the CBFC to certify the film. The court sent the matter back, stating that the board should have been given time to file a counter.

In February, producer KVN Productions withdrew its petition seeking a direction to the CBFC to grant a censor certificate. This move cleared the way for the revising committee to examine the film.

With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections beginning in April, the window for a pre-election release appears unlikely.

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