Congress Accuses Modi Government of Misusing Power Over Film Censorship in Tamil Nadu
Girish Chodankar, Congress's Tamil Nadu in-charge, has accused the Modi government of misusing power by delaying the censor certificate for actor Vijay's film 'Jana Nayakan'. He expressed concerns about the implications of political censorship on artistic freedom and urged the Prime Minister to avoid using art as a political tool. Chodankar challenged Modi to confront Vijay politically rather than through intimidation. The film, anticipated to be Vijay's last, has faced delays ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, raising questions about political motivations behind the censorship. This situation has sparked significant public outcry and further accusations against the Prime Minister regarding disrespect towards Tamil culture.
| Jan 8, 2026, 14:22 IST
Allegations of Political Misuse of Power
Girish Chodankar, the Congress in-charge for Tamil Nadu, criticized the Narendra Modi administration on Thursday, claiming that the delay in granting a censor certificate for the film 'Jana Nayakan' by actor Vijay reflects a misuse of political power. Chodankar expressed his concerns on X, stating, “Dear Prime Minister's Office and Narendra Modi, the controversy surrounding actor Vijay's film 'Jana Nayakan' has raised alarms about the misuse of political power. While political differences are understandable, targeting an artist's work is unacceptable.”
Public Outcry Against Censorship
The Congress leader further emphasized that the people of Tamil Nadu will not tolerate censorship of cinema for political gain. He urged Prime Minister Modi to refrain from using art and entertainment as pawns in political battles. Chodankar reiterated that the delay faced by Vijay's film due to alleged pressure from the government is unfair to both the producers and fans. He called for a separation of art from politics and respect for creative freedom.
Challenge to Modi's Political Claims
Chodankar suggested that Modi should confront Vijay as a politician rather than as an actor. He challenged Modi to prove his claims of strength by engaging with Vijay politically, stating, “Remember, your threatening politics will not work in Tamil Nadu.” These remarks followed the anticipation surrounding the film 'Jana Nayakan', which is considered to be Vijay's last film and has been postponed ahead of the 2026 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
Release Date and Further Accusations
The film was initially scheduled for release on January 9, 2026. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Praveen Chakravarthy accused Modi of insulting the people of Tamil Nadu. He referenced a 2017 post by Rahul Gandhi, where Gandhi warned the Prime Minister against disrespecting Tamil pride by suppressing Tamil cinema. Chakravarthy stated that Modi has once again insulted the Tamil people by deliberately withholding the censor certificate for 'Jana Nayakan' and obstructing its release.