The troubled release of Jana Nayagan, the purported farewell film of actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, has taken a fresh turn as legal proceedings over its piracy case continue in the Madras high court, even as the actor’s father said the setbacks were anticipated from the outset.
The film, directed by H Vinoth, has faced a series of obstacles since early this year, including delays in obtaining a censor certificate and an online leak prior to release. Its debut, initially planned for the Pongal festival in January, was also delayed.
Speaking in a recent interview, veteran filmmaker SA Chandrasekhar said the challenges did not come as a surprise to the family. He said that if the film had been released without difficulty, “that would have been surprising”, adding that Vijay had warned the producer about the likely complications given his political entry.
Chandrasekhar said his son had explicitly flagged the risks at a public event, noting that the film’s political undertones and references to his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), could invite scrutiny. “He knew it would face hurdles,” Chandrasekhar said, describing the developments as expected rather than exceptional.
On the issue of piracy, he described the leak as a targeted attack intended to damage both the film’s emotional and financial prospects. He declined to attribute responsibility, calling speculation about political involvement “natural” but unproven.
The leak triggered a criminal investigation earlier this month after a complaint by the film’s producers, KVN Productions. Police subsequently arrested multiple individuals, with authorities alleging that a freelance editor had accessed and distributed footage, leading to its circulation online.
The case is now before the Madras High Court, where KVN Productions on Tuesday opposed an anticipatory bail plea filed by D. Uma Shankar, a 41-year-old resident of Tiruvallur district who has been named in connection with the leak.
Appearing before Justice C. Kumarappan, counsel for the production house argued against granting advance bail, prompting the court to direct the firm to file an impleading petition. The matter has been adjourned to 30 April.
In his plea, the petitioner denied any involvement, stating he had no links to the film industry and had neither watched nor shared the film. He also alleged police harassment and cited health concerns in seeking protection from arrest.
Government counsel told the court that two arrests had already been made and that one of the accused had named the petitioner in a confession statement. Investigations into his role are ongoing.
The film, which co-stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol and Prakash Raj among others, remains without a confirmed release date.
