Overview
- A single judge ordered the CBFC to issue a U/A 16+ certificate on January 9, but a division bench led by Chief Justice MM Shrivastava with Justice G. Arul Murugan put that order on interim hold hours later.
- With certification stalled, the film missed its Pongal release and now awaits the next Madras High Court hearing on January 21.
- Producer Venkat K Narayana said the film was submitted on December 18 and, after a December 22 email indicating U/A 16+ subject to edits, it was later sent to a revising committee reportedly after a single complaint.
- Kamal Haasan called for defined timelines, transparency, and written reasons for cuts, while Ram Gopal Varma, Mari Selvaraj, and Pa Ranjith publicly criticized the CBFC’s handling.
- Media reports say the makers may seek Supreme Court relief, which is not confirmed, as the certification dispute disrupts Vijay’s announced farewell film and affects distributors and theatre workers.