India, Jan. 8 -- The release of Jana Nayagan, actor-politician Vijay's much-anticipated big-budget film, has been postponed amid an escalating controversy over its censor certification, triggering sharp political reactions and legal scrutiny just days before its scheduled theatrical debut.

The film, which was slated for a January 9 release, was deferred due to what producers described as "unavoidable circumstances beyond our control."

Production house KVN Productions said the decision was taken with a "heavy heart", acknowledging the intense anticipation around the project, widely believed to be Vijay's final film before his full-time entry into politics.

The postponement comes against the backdrop of an unresolved standoff with the Ce...