Coimbatore, Jan 10: Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president and legislative party leader Nainar Nagendran has firmly denied any involvement by the BJP in the ongoing controversy over the release of the much-anticipated Tamil film Jana Nayagan. His comments come amid political debate concerning the delay in the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) clearance for the movie, which was initially scheduled to release during the Pongal festival.Speaking to the media in Coimbatore on Friday, Nagendran stressed that the BJP had no influence over the censor board or its decisions. He described the CBFC as an independent statutory body responsible for deciding which portions of a film can be shown to audiences, and said the party would not engage in debates about the board’s actions.
Nagendran’s remarks come against the backdrop of heated accusations by several political figures and parties, including the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and DMK leaders, who have alleged that the censor process has been politicised. However, BJP leaders have consistently maintained that the central government has no role in CBFC functioning, and that the board’s decisions are based strictly on regulatory procedures rather than political direction.
While addressing broader political questions, Nagendran also spoke about alliance discussions with the AIADMK ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, noting that there had been no talks on seat sharing or demands for a specific number of seats so far. He said the BJP is keen for the DMDK (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam) to join their alliance, but added that the decision ultimately lies with the DMDK leadership.
The Jana Nayagan release controversy intensified after the Madras High Court took up a petition related to the film’s certification, and the dispute has since sparked political reactions from multiple quarters. Congress leaders have accused the BJP and the CBFC of delaying the release as a political tactic, while senior BJP figures, including former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, have dismissed these claims as unfounded and defended the board’s autonomy.
As the debate continues, the film’s release remains in limbo, with both the legal process and certification procedures unfolding in parallel.