Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, the last to court trouble, not the first

Actor-politician Vijay’s fans person been near profoundly disappointed by the last-minute postponement of his highly anticipated last film, Jana Nayagan, aft the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) refused to contented it a censor certificate. This, contempt the filmmakers agreeing to marque 27 cuts successful the film. The movie has not been referred to a larger reappraisal committee pursuing objections from 1 of the members of the archetypal examining committee.

Mr. Vijay’s supporters are alleging that a governmental conspiracy is astatine play, peculiarly since the actor-politician has been vocal astir his absorption to some the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) astatine the nationalist level and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) successful Tamil Nadu. Some person drawn comparisons betwixt Mr. Vijay’s troubles and those faced by erstwhile Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), who struggled to merchandise his movie Ulagam Sutrum Valiban successful 1973 aft being expelled from the DMK by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Incidentally, erstwhile shooting for that movie began, MGR was inactive successful the DMK. Back then, erstwhile MGR was visiting Japan for a shoot, Karunanidhi himself went to the airdrome to spot him off—and adjacent boarded the craft to privation him well.

According to an incidental (based connected an Intelligence officer’s interrogation to a magazine) recounted by MGR’s biographer, R. Kannan, erstwhile MGR returned from the shoot, the Indira Gandhi authorities allegedly attempted to unit MGR done the Income Tax Department, hoping to weaken the DMK.

When Ulagam Sutrum Valiban was yet acceptable for release, theatre owners came nether unit to not surface the film. However, it went connected to go 1 of MGR’s top hits, moving for a metallic jubilee not lone successful Tamil Nadu but besides successful Sri Lanka, Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. The governmental connection of the movie was encapsulated successful the dialogue: “I person seen your power. Don’t you person to spot my strength? Give maine a chance.”

For Jana Nayagan, Mr. Vijay’s governmental connection is clear: “I americium coming.” However, fans volition person to hold for his accomplishment connected screen, and it mightiness beryllium delayed—possibly for the past time.

This is not the archetypal clip Vijay has faced specified obstacles. Since hinting astatine his governmental ambitions implicit 15 years ago, respective of his films person faced controversies that galore judge are politically motivated.

Thuppaki misfires

In 2012, Thuppakki, successful which Mr. Vijay played a subject serviceman hunting down a violent network, faced backlash from Muslim groups who objected to the portrayal of assemblage members arsenic terrorists. Fearing attacks, galore theatres were initially reluctant to surface the film. After the filmmakers, including manager A.R. Murugadoss and shaper Kalaipuli Thanu, issued a nationalist apology and agreed to region the arguable scenes, the movie yet enjoyed a palmy run.

Mr. Vijay’s father, S.A. Chandrasekhar, aboriginal suggested that Mr. Vijay could play a Muslim quality successful his adjacent film, emphasising his tendency to beryllium loved by each communities.

Thalaivaa, (Not the) Time to Lead

A twelvemonth later, Thalaivaa was scheduled for a merchandise connected Eid, but the movie ran into occupation aft a tag line, “Time to Lead,” appeared connected posters. At that time, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was reportedly upset by remarks made by S.A. Chandrasekhar, who had partially credited Mr. Vijay’s instrumentality nine for her 2011 electoral victory. The tag enactment was seen arsenic a situation to her authority. Initially, cinema owners claimed constabulary unit was preventing the film’s release, though the Director General of Police (DGP) denied this. It aboriginal emerged that the contented was related to the film’s deficiency of amusement taxation exemption from the State government. Mr. Vijay aboriginal appealed successful an affectional video to Jayalalithaa to assistance guarantee the film’s release. In the end, the movie deed theatres aft a two-week delay, but lone aft the tag enactment was removed. Mr. Vijay publically thanked Jayalalithaa for her intervention.

Muted Sarkar

In 2018, during the merchandise of Sarkar, Mr. Vijay’s narration with the AIADMK took different hit. Several AIADMK ministers objected to the film’s portrayal of freebie schemes, similar mixers and grinders, which were distributed by Jayalalithaa’s government. The villain’s quality was besides named Komalavallai, which is the commencement sanction of Jayalalithaa. Tamil Nadu’s Law Minister, C.Ve. Shanmugam, warned that definite scenes could incite violence, and immoderate theatres screening the movie were vandalised by AIADMK cadres. The filmmakers yet reached a compromise by removing arguable scenes and muting the villain’s name.

Mersal mocks

Mr. Vijay besides faced disapproval from BJP leaders during the merchandise of Mersal successful 2017, peculiarly implicit dialogues mocking the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Digital India initiatives. BJP leaders, including Tamilisai Soundararajan, demanded that the objectionable scenes beryllium removed. H. Raja, a elder BJP leader, adjacent referred to Mr. Vijay arsenic “Joseph Vijay,” ostensibly to item the actor’s religion. However, Mr. Vijay recovered enactment from absorption parties, including the DMK and Congress.

Master trouble

In 2020, Mr. Vijay’s troubles resurfaced erstwhile Income Tax officials raided the sets of his movie Master, questioning him astir his finances. When the movie was scheduled for a Pongal merchandise successful January 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic presented different obstacle. Mr. Vijay met with then-Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and urged him to assistance the 50% seating capableness restrictions for theatres. The authorities complied, and Master went connected to go a blockbuster.

Throughout his vocation implicit the past decade, Mr. Vijay’s films person been entangled successful politics—whether done nonstop attacks oregon subtle insinuations. As his last movie Jana Nayagan waits for release, his supporters stay hopeful, adjacent arsenic they question whether authorities volition ever basal successful the mode of his on-screen success.