Vijay's Jana Nayagan shows halted in Chennai over minors in A-rated screenings

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's Jana Nayagan ran into an unexpected hurdle on Sunday after screenings at select theatres in Chennai were either halted, delayed or temporarily cancelled because children were brought to the shows of the A-certified film.One such incident took place during the 9.25 am show at PVR Cinemas, Ampa Mall, on Sunday. According to a fan who attended the screening, the film was stopped around 9.35 am after police officials entered the auditorium upon noticing that several families had brought children into the A-rated screening.Sharing a video from inside the theatre, the fan alleged that the show remained paused for nearly an hour while parents accompanied by children were asked to leave the auditorium."Around 9:35 am, the movie was stopped because families with children had entered an A-rated screening. The show was paused for nearly an hour while the parents with children were asked to leave. There was very little communication during the delay, and the audience was left waiting. Eventually, the management announced a refund and the screening resumed after the parents with children had exited. The entire situation could have been handled much better (sic)," the fan wrote. A similar situation was reported at PVR Grand Mall in Chennai, where screenings were either delayed or cancelled after theatre staff raised concerns over the presence of children below the age of 18 inside the auditorium for the A-rated film.In the comment sections of the two posts, several users flagged similar incidents of the presence of minors in Jana Nayagan shows, which caused delays or cancellations. Take a look at some comments:Jana Nayagan received an A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after the makers were asked to implement several modifications, including the removal and replacement of TVK references, changes to dialogues, and edits to a few violent scenes. Producer Venkat K Narayana had earlier expressed disappointment over the certification, stating that the film promotes girl-child empowerment and was intended to be watched by families.The A certificate means the film is legally restricted to adult audiences. While some theatres in smaller towns have reportedly been lenient with enforcement, multiplex chains in Chennai have begun strictly implementing the certification norms, resulting in disruptions to screenings where children were present.Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan marks Vijay's final film as he shifts his focus to his full-time political career. The film released in theatres on July 23 and opened to strong box office numbers despite a high-definition leak ahead of its release.- EndsPublished On: Jul 27, 2026 10:18 IST