Vijay’s highly awaited movie Jana Nayagan has had a tough time at Chennai’s theater halls after screenings were stopped for a few days after allegations were made that minors had been allowed to watch the A-rated film. The incident has led to some discussion on the CBFC certification (CBFC) and cinema operators' responsibilities.
The police intervened when they found that children below the age of 18 had also entered screenings despite the film having an A certificate (Adults Only). According to CBFC guidelines, films with an A certificate are only acceptable for adult audiences and cinema halls must verify the age of viewers before they can be let in.
After inspections, the screenings were halted at some theaters and officials made sure to follow certification rules. Theatre owners were told to observe the age restrictions and work at times to resume the show.
The controversy comes just a week after Jana Nayagan was launched in Tamil Nadu with great fanfare. The film, which was Vijay’s last movie before he moved into full-time politics, saw packed theatres and celebrations in first-day-first-show times across the state.
The CBFC's A certificate prohibits admission of anyone below 18 years of age. Although younger viewers can view U/A-rated films if certain conditions are met, A-rated films are aimed at adult viewers and exhibitors must comply.
Social media users are also debating the fact that children were able to enter cinema halls given the certification. There are also suggestions for tighter identity verification at cinema halls to prevent this from happening again.
Earlier, the film had already attracted attention when media reports emerged of public figures attending screenings with children, and how it was certified was also under scrutiny.
Jana Nayagan still has a huge audience and remains one of the biggest releases of the year. The fans continue to pack the theatres and exhibitors will have to tighten up screenings so that only those who are eligible are admitted to screenings.
The incident is a reminder that film certification rules are legally enforceable and apply equally to all exhibitors, regardless of a film's popularity. The authorities are supposed to continue monitoring theatres to ensure strict compliance with CBFC regulations and to prevent future violations.
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