Madras High Court restrains illegal broadcast of Vijay film Jana Nayagan

The Madras High Court on Thursday passed an interim order restraining cable operators and internet service providers from illegally broadcasting or facilitating access to pirated copies of the Vijay-starrer film Jana Nayagan [KVN productions Vs BSNL]..Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy passed the order in a suit filed by KVN Productions LLP, the co-producer of the film, which alleged that the movie had been leaked online even before receiving certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).Today's interim order will remain in force till June 2. The matter will be heard further thereafter. .Jana Nayagan was touted as Vijay’s last film before his entry into politics. The film was originally scheduled for release on January 9, coinciding with the Pongal festival.However, the film’s release was delayed after the film was referred to a revising committee of the CBFC over a complaint alleging improper portrayal of defence forces and scenes with a potential hurt to religious sentiments. The film’s producer approached the Madras High Court challeging the delay in getting a final censor certificate from the CBFC.On January 9, a single judge Bench of the High Court initially granted the filmmakers relief, and ordered CBFC to give a final censor certficate fortwith. However, a Division Bench later stayed the single-judge ruling hours later, and the Supreme Court too refused to interfere with this stay order. The High Court’s Division Bench later sent the matter back to the single judge for reconsideration. On February 10, the filmmakers chose to withdraw its plea from the High Court, leaving it to the CBFC’s revising committee to take a final call on when the film would finally be cleared for theatrical release. A final censor certificate is yet to be issued. .Meanwhile, the film was recently leaked online.KVN productions contended that the pre-release leak posed a serious threat to the film’s commercial viability, as pirated versions could be widely circulated through cable networks and online platforms, causing irreparable financial loss..KVN Productions argued that its latest suit was filed as a quia timet (parties seeking relief against anticipated harms) action, based on a reasonable apprehension of large-scale piracy. However, the situation escalated after the film was allegedly leaked online on April 9, 2026, even before its theatrical release.The producer further submitted that several “rogue websites” hosting pirated content do not comply with takedown requests and frequently create mirror domains to evade blocking orders. It therefore sought a dynamic injunction directing intermediaries to block access to such infringing platforms.The Court was also told that damages would be an inadequate remedy, as piracy, especially pre-release leakage, would erode theatrical revenues and significantly diminish the value of satellite and digital rights..Accepting the prima facie case made out by the production house, the Court restrained the defendants, including multiple cable operators and ISPs, from copying, recording, reproducing, transmitting or making available the film in any manner without authorisation. The injunction also extends to distribution through mediums such as cable television, internet services, and physical storage devices..KVN Productions LLP was represented by advocates A M Venkatakrishnan, T Pandiyan and S Deepak.