Amid Vijay's battle against Jana Nayagan CBFC, actor-politician Ravi Kishan says he is 'just a call away': 'He will raise it in Parliament...'

3 minutes of readingNew DelhiJanuary 28, 2026 1:47 PM IST

Jana Nayagan, Thalapathy Vijay’s much-awaited last film before entering into politics was expected to dominate the Sankranti box office. Made on a huge budget of Rs 500 crore, the film was emerging as the biggest release of the season. However, instead of celebrating advance bookings and packed houses, the makers are now locked in a legal battle with the censor board, with the film’s release date in limbo. Amid the ongoing controversy, actor and MP Ravi Kishan came forward and offered to intervene and help resolve the issue. Speaking exclusively to SCREEN, the actor and politician said he is just a phone call away. Apart from Hindi, Ravi has worked extensively in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bhojpuri films.

“I came to know about this from you. Otherwise, I have not received any complaint. But as an MP, film people can approach me directly. They can write to me or call me. If any film gets stuck, I can definitely call the censor board,” Ravi Kishan said.

Explaining why certification delays have become increasingly common, the actor pointed to the increasing workload and scrutiny the board faces.

“The reason for the delays could be that they have to scan several things in a film. They have to ensure that the language is appropriate, that no religious sentiments are hurt and that real-life incidents are not misrepresented. A lot of things go into this process. The real question is how many screenings the panel members can realistically do in a single day,” he explained.

Reiterating his commitment to the film fraternity, Ravi Kishan added, “Through you, I want to convey this to my family – the film industry. You can directly come to me and contact me. All this is happening while our government is in power, so it is my responsibility to take care of my fraternity. You don’t need to worry.”

The actor further revealed that he plans to raise the issue at the parliamentary level.

Story continues below this ad.

“I will personally talk to the Ministry of Information. Parliament will meet soon and I will make sure to discuss how we can improve the censorship board by making it bigger, better equipped and faster in the certification process so that producers can release films on time,” he said.

The censor board has been under intense scrutiny over the past year, with Jana Nayagan becoming the latest flashpoint. Several other films faced similar obstacles. Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi, which was scheduled around the same time, reportedly received its certificate just a day before its release, leaving the makers with barely 10 hours to implement over 25 mandatory changes. The film ultimately struggled at the box office.

In multiple cases last year, films that should have received an ‘A’ certificate were instead given a ‘U/A’ grade, raising new questions about inconsistencies in the certification process. Despite repeated criticism from filmmakers and industry experts, censorship board members have remained silent on the allegations.

Jyothi Jha is an incisive multi-platform editor and journalist at The Indian Express, where she specializes in high-stakes entertainment reporting and film analysis. With over six years of diverse experience in India’s leading media, he brings a rigorous, ethics-focused approach to digital storytelling and editorial curation. Experience and career Jyothi’s career is characterized by its breadth and depth in the media landscape. Before joining the editorial team of The Indian Express, he honed his expertise covering entertainment beats for leading national broadcasters including NDTV, Republic Media and TV9. His professional career is not limited to digital text; She has a proven track record as an on-air presenter and has successfully managed production teams within the high-pressure Politics and Daily News segments. This 360-degree view of newsroom operations lets you navigate the complexities of modern journalism with veteran precision. Areas of Specialization and Focus Guided by the Orwellian principle that “journalism prints what someone else doesn’t want you to print,” Jyothi focuses on transparent and accountability-based reporting. His main areas of expertise include: Film Deconstruction: Analysis of the social subtext of mainstream Bollywood and South Indian cinema (e.g. Kantara, Masaan, Dabangg). Toxic Masculinity and Gender Studies: Outspoken critique of regressive tropes in Indian cinema, often highlighting the industry’s treatment of women and social progress. Box Office & Industry Economics – Provides data-backed predictions and analysis on movie performance and superstar fee structures. Exclusive Multimedia Coverage: Conducting in-depth interviews and long-form features that bridge the gap between archival history and modern pop culture. Authority and Trust Jyothi Jha has established herself as a trusted voice by prioritizing substance over PR-driven narratives. His background in hard news and political production provides him with a unique lens through which to view the entertainment industry, not simply as gossip, but as a reflection of social values. Readers trust her for “Courage Journalism,” knowing that her critiques are rooted in a deep respect for the craft and a refusal to settle for superficiality. Her ability to switch between daily news and specialized entertainment analysis makes her a versatile and authoritative pillar of The Indian Express newsroom.
…Read more

Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.

Select a plan

Monthly plan

Yearly plan

All plans include

Search for an article