As 2026 dawns, South Indian cinema finds itself in a whirlwind of controversy. Vijay’s highly anticipated film ‘Jana Nayagan’ is caught up in a web of censorship issues, while ‘Parasakthi’ faces backlash for allegedly misrepresenting historical narratives.

Any form of art is supposed to provoke thought, mirror society, and spark conversations. Films from the southern part of India have long done that, but 2026 was kickstarted with controversies that have ignited like wildfire. While some discussions shifted from screens to courtrooms, others led to heated debates on political histories. Films such as ‘Jana Nayagan’, ‘Parasakthi’, and ‘Toxic’ sparked debates about creative freedom, political interests, and cultural sensibilities. Here’s everything you need to know about the biggest turbulence from recent times that shook the South Cinema.

‘Jana Nayagan’ censor row

Vijay starrer ‘Jana Nayagan’ was slated for release on January 9, for the Pongal festivities. The film marks Vijay’s farewell silver screen appearance before he fully shifts his focus to politics with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). However, the film is indefinitely postponed due to the censorship row. It all began on December 18, when the makers submitted the film to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for censor certification. Following the initial screening, 27 cuts were suggested, which the makers agreed to. However, during resubmission, an internal complaint was made by a member of the examining committee, who alleged that certain contents of the film hurt religious sentiments and contained an objectionable portrayal of the armed forces. With the release date nearing and tickets being sold in pre-booking, the makers approached the Madras High Court on January 6, seeking immediate issuance of the censor certificate. A day later, on January 7, the producers of the film announced the postponement of ‘Jana Nayagan’, citing ‘unavoidable circumstances’ which are beyond their control. On January 9, the Madras High Court directed the CBFC to grant a U/A certificate to ‘Jana Nayagan’; however, hours later, following an appeal, a two-judge Bench of the Madras HC stayed the Single Judge order to issue a U/A 16+ certificate to the film. Following this, the makers approached the Supreme Court challenging the Madras HC’s division bench order; however, it was met with disappointment. Today, January 15, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the plea filed by the producer and noted that the Madras High Court’s Division Bench will hear the matter on January 20.

‘Parasakthi’ called out for the distortion of historic events

(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)

Sivakarthikeyan starrer ‘Parasakthi’ directed by Sudha Kongara, has stirred controversy of a different kind. The film borrows the title from the legendary 1952 Sivaji Ganesan film that popularised DMK ideology. The film revolves around the 1965 anti-Hindi agitations, which hold a huge significance in Tamil Nadu’s political history. Soon after its release, the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress demanded a ban, alleging that it distorts historical facts. They also alleged that the film shows the Congress Party and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in a poor light. Though the makers of the film claimed the sequences are purely fictional, the scenes, like a burning train incident and a Congress flag burning, irked them. The climax scene, where real-life photographs of political leaders, including Indira Gandhi, were shown, also led to further backlash. “Parasakthi is not just creative fiction. It uses real leaders, real events, and real visuals. When history is distorted in this manner, it directly defames the Congress,” Arun Bhaskar, Senior Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress, told NDTV.According to Bhaskar, in the film, Sivakarthikeyan’s character meets Indira Gandhi to oppose Hindi imposition, which is followed by scenes that portray her in a bad light. “Indira Gandhi never visited Coimbatore on February 12. This meeting did not happen at all. She was not in Coimbatore on that day,” he said. That’s not all. The film was also given 25 censor cuts, after which it was released on January 10.

‘Toxic’ teaser and cultural sensibilities

Picture Credit: YouTube Screengrab

Yash’s most anticipated film, ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown Ups’, is gearing up for release. The makers launched a teaser on January 8, to coincide with the lead actor’s birthday. The teaser was met with praise initially but quickly drew flak for its sexist portrayal of the female protagonist. The film featured Yash’s character engaged in intimacy with Brazilian actress, Beatriz Taufenbach outside a cemetery, eventually blowing it up. The scene didn’t sit well with some viewers and led to backlash. While the audience in Kerala called out Geetu Mohandas, the director of ‘Toxic’, for the risqué scenes, given that she had earlier fueled the ‘Kasaba’ controversy in 2016, on the other side, the Aam Aadmi Party’s women’s wing in Karnataka filed a complaint citing the “obscene and explicit content.” Geetu Mohandas, via an Instagram story, hinted at where to draw a line between female pleasure and consent. However, that alone didn’t save the film from controversy. The AAP women’s wing argued that the teaser was unsuitable for public viewing without an age restriction. They also added that such scenes can cause “serious harm to the social well-being of women and children” and they “degrade the dignity of women and insult Kannada culture.” Later, a second complaint was filed by social activist Dinesh Kallahalli, citing that the teaser violated public decency and morality and exposed minors and young viewers to legally impermissible content.Films, of all art forms, are meant to spark conversations. But of which kind? Only time can tell.DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this article is based on ongoing news reports, official statements from production houses, and public legal filings. The views expressed by political parties, activists, and filmmakers are their own and are reported here for informational purposes only.