Is 'Jana Nayagan' Vijay's first film to receive an 'A' certificate from CBFC? Here's the truth

The CBFC has finally cleared 'Jana Nayagan' with an 'A' certificate, ending months of uncertainty over the film's censor process. Post the announcement, many users on social media said that this is the first Vijay film to get an adult rating. However, that's not true. While 'Jana Nayagan' is Vijay's first 'A'-certified film in nearly 24 years, it is actually the second film in his career to receive the classification.The first Vijay-starrer to receive an 'A' certificate was the 2002 action drama Baghavathi, directed by A. Venkatesh. Released more than two decades ago, the film was cleared with an adult rating because of its action and violent content. With Jana Nayagan now receiving the same certification, it becomes the first Vijay film after Baghavathi to be awarded an 'A' certificate by the CBFC. In an earlier interview with Cinema Vikatan, director A. Venkatesh confirmed that Baghavathi had indeed received an 'A' certificate. He said, "They gave the film an 'A' certificate. Even I was surprised. At that time, the censor board was very strict. Compared to those days, I feel the censors are much more liberal now." Explaining the reason, he added, "If a hero punches someone and blood comes out, they wouldn't allow it. Most of my films had action and a little glamour, so getting an 'A' certificate was common for my films." His remarks have resurfaced after Jana Nayagan received its censor clearance.With the latest certification, 'Jana Nayagan' joins 'Baghavathi' as one of only two Vijay films to receive an 'A' rating from the CBFC. The H. Vinoth directorial, which reportedly has a runtime of 183 minutes, is now expected to head for release on July 24 after its long censor delay. As excitement builds around Vijay's final announced film, the clarification also puts to rest the misconception that 'Jana Nayagan' is the first 'A'-certified film of his career.