Tamil superstar and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s much-awaited final film, Jana Nayagan, hit theatres on Thursday to packed houses across the state, with fans turning the release into a grand celebration.
Directed by H. Vinoth, the political action drama marks Vijay’s farewell to cinema as he shifts his full focus to politics. The film stars Bobby Deol as the antagonist alongside Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Narain, and Gautham Vasudev Menon.
Mixed Early Audience Reactions
Initial reactions on social media have been mixed. While many viewers praised Vijay’s screen presence and Anirudh Ravichander’s background score, others felt the storyline borrowed heavily from previous commercial entertainers.
One viewer described the film as a blend of several mass entertainers, while another praised Anirudh’s music for enhancing both the emotional and action sequences. Some early viewers, however, criticised the film’s screenplay, calling it underwhelming.
Houseful Shows Across Tamil Nadu
The release has generated massive excitement, with theatres reporting full occupancy across Tamil Nadu. Fans celebrated Vijay’s farewell film with special events, cut-outs, processions and themed gatherings outside cinema halls.
Reports suggest the film is screening in around 950 theatres across the state. Vijay also attended a special screening before the official release.
Record Advance Bookings
Jana Nayagan registered an impressive response even before its release, selling over one million tickets in advance bookings across India.
The film reportedly earned around ₹22 crore through advance sales alone, making it one of the biggest opening-day advances of Vijay’s career.
Trade analysts expect the film to collect ₹55–60 crore net in India on its opening day, while worldwide collections could cross the ₹100 crore mark if current trends continue.
Release Delayed by Certification Issues
Originally slated for a January release, Jana Nayagan was delayed following certification issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). After months of legal proceedings, the film received an A certificate and finally released on July 23.
The film’s title card introduces Vijay as “Honourable Tamil Nadu CM Vijay”, reflecting his transition from actor to politician after assuming office as Chief Minister.
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