Rahul Gandhi Backs Actor Vijay, Slams Modi Government Over ‘Jan Nayakan’ Release

New Delhi, January 13:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticized the central government over its attempt to block the release of Tamil actor Vijay’s film ‘Jan Nayakan’, calling it an attack on Tamil culture. He asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never succeed in silencing the voices of the Tamil people.

The remarks came a day after the producers of ‘Jan Nayakan’ challenged a Madras High Court interim order in the Supreme Court. The single-judge bench of the Madras High Court had previously stayed an earlier order directing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant the film a censor certificate. This created uncertainty over the release of Vijay’s film, which is being promoted as his final cinematic project before fully entering politics.

Rahul Gandhi Speaks Out

Posting on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi said, “The attempt by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to block ‘Jan Nayakan’ is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr. Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.”

Background of the Legal Dispute

KVN Productions LLP had appealed against the Madras High Court bench’s order, which stayed the single-judge directive to the CBFC to issue the film’s censor certificate immediately. The legal tussle delayed the film’s release, which was originally scheduled for January 9, coinciding with the Pongal festival.

Vijay’s Political Entry

Actor Vijay had recently launched his political party, Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), and ‘Jan Nayakan’ is widely regarded as his last film before entering politics. The film had been heavily promoted in anticipation of its release, but certification delays created last-minute hurdles for distributors and audiences alike.

Rahul Gandhi’s intervention highlights the intersection of cinema, culture, and politics in Tamil Nadu, and signals the opposition’s criticism of the Modi government’s handling of regional sensitivities.