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Congress MP Jothimani criticized the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for refusing to grant certification to actor Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan', labeling it an attack on the Tamil film industry. She accused the Modi government of using the censorship board as a political weapon to suppress creative freedom, asserting that such actions undermine the hard work and financial investment involved in filmmaking.

Jothimani described the CBFC as an outdated institution and called for its reform, emphasizing that film approval should belong to the audience. The film's release, initially set for January 9, 2026, has been postponed ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Fellow Congress MP Manickam Tagore also expressed concerns about threats to freedom of speech in the film industry under Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.