Gandhi's X post fuelled speculation in Tamil Nadu about possible alliance talks between Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and the Congress.
Published Jan 13, 2026 | 3:51 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 13, 2026 | 3:51 PM
Rahul Gandhi.
Synopsis: The senior Congress leader said the denial of a certificate to the movie amounted to “an attack on Tamil culture”. Gandhi also warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would not succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.
Actor-politician Vijay’s latest movie, Jana Nayagan, caught in a row with the censor board, got a shot in the arm on Tuesday, 11 January, with the Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi extending his support.
The senior Congress leader said the denial of a certificate to the movie amounted to “an attack on Tamil culture”. Gandhi also warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would not succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.
“The I&B Ministry’s attempt to block ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people,” he posted.
Gandhi’s X post fuelled speculation in Tamil Nadu about possible alliance talks between Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the Congress.
While Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and other leaders of the ruling alliance had corralled the certification delay with democratic rights, Gandhi made the remark in favour of the film for the first time, and linked it to the politically significant Tamil culture.
Stalin had issued a statement earlier, alleging that institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate, the CBI, and now the CBFC were being misused as political tools by the BJP.
While a section of the DMK and other parties accused the Congress of supporting Vijay merely to pave the way for an alliance with the TVK, Congress’s Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar dismissed these allegations.
Speaking to the media, he said the Congress was raising its voice in defence of democratic rights and not for any electoral alliance.
Incidentally, Gandhi was the first political leader to speak to Vijay over the phone after the 27 September 2025 Karur stampede, which killed 41 people.
Gandhi’s X post came a day after Vijay had deposed before the CBI in Delhi in the Karur crowd crush case. The post has been seen as a challenge to the BJP, besides a signal of support to Vijay.
Jana Nayagan, initially slated for a 9 January release, has been withheld after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not certify it fit for screening.
The makers of the film were expecting a U/A certificate — parental guidance for audiences aged under 12 — for Jana Nayagan, the movie considered to be the last one in Vijay’s 34-year-long career as a lead actor.
Earlier, production house KVN Productions had approached the Madras High Court, seeking an order in favour of releasing the film. On 9 January, Justice PT Asha directed the CBFC to issue the certification.
However, later the same afternoon, the CBFC filed an appeal before a Bench headed by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, which granted an interim stay on the single judge’s order. The case was then deferred until 21 January.
Subsequently, the film’s team approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Madras High Court Chief Justice’s order. Meanwhile, the CBFC has also filed a caveat petition, seeking to ensure that no orders are passed without hearing its arguments.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
The I&B Ministry’s attempt to block ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture.
Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 13, 2026
