CBFC denies involvement in ‘Jana Nayagan’ leaks, calls accusations baseless

New Delhi: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Saturday dismissed claims that Tamil film “Jana Nayagan” was leaked from its system as “baseless and misleading” and insisted that its certification process followed secure, access-controlled protocols. The clarification comes amid controversy over the film allegedly leaking online in high-definition format, sparking outrage from fans and industry stakeholders.Explaining its process, the CBFC said that all films submitted for certification are secured through a Key Delivery Message (KDM) mechanism with password-protected access strictly controlled by the producer or filmmaker. “Without a valid KDM, content cannot be accessed or viewed,” officials said, stressing that the board will no longer retain independent access once the Digital Cinema Package (DCP) is handed over.According to the CBFC, the DCP of “Jana Nayagan” was officially handed over to the applicants with due recognition in Mumbai on March 17 and has been retained in their hands since then, ultimately ruling out any irregularities.Earlier reports suggested that the big-budget Vijay-starrer film initially surfaced online as a brief five-minute clip, which was later upgraded to the full length that was leaked on piracy websites. The leaked footage reportedly includes key sequences such as the title intro and climax, raising concerns about a security breach within the production or distribution chain.Director H Vinoth urged viewers not to spread the leaked content and said each scene represented the efforts of hundreds of people. Some industry voices echoed the call, calling for restraint and a stricter crackdown on piracy.The incident has also fueled calls for swift legal action, with fans demanding accountability and stricter safeguards. It is understood that producers are exploring options to mitigate losses, including bringing forward the release schedule.