Overview
- The apex court’s cause list indicates the plea by KVN Productions will be taken up on January 15, though some outlets had reported January 19.
- The CBFC initially recommended a U/A certificate with cuts but, after a complaint, referred the film to a Revising Committee, stalling clearance.
- On January 9, a single judge of the Madras High Court directed the board to certify the film, which a division bench stayed hours later, leaving the release in limbo.
- Rahul Gandhi called the delay an attack on Tamil culture and blamed the Centre, while BJP figures and a Union minister denied government interference.
- The Pongal release was missed despite large advance bookings, and the planned re-release of Vijay’s 2016 hit Theri was also postponed in the fallout.