Tamil superstar Vijay’s blockbuster ‘Leo’ is staring at an uncertain release date after the Madras High Court annulled a lower court order compelling the censor board to certify the film without delay. The division bench’s decision on Tuesday disrupts what was shaping up to be one of 2024’s biggest openings.

Background to the saga: KVN Productions planned ‘Leo’ for a January 9 Pongal splash, but the CBFC halted proceedings citing complaints and referred it to a revising committee. Frustrated makers rushed to the High Court, securing a single judge’s ruling for swift UA certification after tweaks.

Not backing down, the CBFC challenged this in appeal, claiming procedural lapses. The bench concurred, setting aside the order and stressing that the board deserved a hearing. This paves the way for the mandatory review, indefinitely postponing the release.

‘Leo’ boasts a stellar cast including Vijay, Sanjay Dutt as the antagonist, and a gripping narrative of survival and revenge helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Anirudh’s pulsating soundtrack had fans chanting titles tracks weeks in advance.

The legal ping-pong continued with producers knocking on the Supreme Court’s door, only to be redirected. Now, with the single judge’s mandate scrapped, ‘Leo’ awaits CBFC clearance—a process that could stretch weeks amid the board’s backlog.

For Vijay, riding high post-‘Varisu’ and ‘Beast’, this is a setback in his pre-political career phase. Filmmakers decry censor delays as stifling creativity, while the board insists on upholding standards. As ‘Leo’ lingers in limbo, competitors eye the lucrative Pongal window it vacated.