The controversy over the lengthy process of censorship is still a debate though Thalapathy Vijay The starrer ‘Jana Nayagan’ won the screen with an ‘A’ certificate. Filmmaker and former CBFC advisory panel member EV Ganesh Babu has now shared his view on what caused the delay. He said most of the criticism leveled at the CBFC was based on misunderstandings and emphasized that the lengthy certification process was mostly a result of legal processes and regulations related to elections, rather than any deliberate attempt to restrict the film.
Ganesh Babu said the court case delayed the certification process
Speaking to Cinema Express, Ganesh Babu said, “The film was first looked at by the review committee, which recommended a Revision Committee. Instead of applying that immediately, the makers turned to the court. When the case reached the court, the process naturally took a long time because the CBFC officials also had to respond. No one in the CBFC wants to delay the film.” He added that he was part of one of the committees that watched ‘Jana Nayagan,’ but he clarified that he was not on the final panel that gave the film a certificate. Because of this, he said he could not comment on whether the final ‘A’ certificate was the right decision.
The announcement of the election added another obstacle
Ganesh Babu also explained that the announcement of elections created another hurdle for the film. “Since the film has political content, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect. The officials cannot ignore the election rules while certifying the film. If the makers had withdrawn the court case earlier and approached the Revising Committee, there would have been enough time to complete the process before the announcement of the election,” he said. According to him, the delay is due to circumstances and legal procedures, not to any refusal on the part of the CBFC to issue a certificate.
The former CBFC member rubbished the rumors surrounding the process
Responding to the speculation surrounding the certification process, Ganesh Babu said, “Every citizen has the right to approach the court. I am not saying the decision is wrong. But court proceedings take time because judges have to examine every aspect of the case. If the Revising Committee route had been chosen earlier, there is a 100 percent possibility that ‘Jana Nayagan’ would have received its certificate before Pongal.He also dismissed rumors about leaks during CBFC screenings, saying the process is highly secure and follows strict protocols, making unauthorized access to the film more difficult.