Updated on: 24 Jul 2026
Thousands of fans and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) workers gathered at cinema halls across Tamil Nadu for the first-day, first-show screening of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s much-awaited film Jana Nayagan, marking his final appearance on the silver screen before dedicating himself entirely to politics.
The release triggered grand celebrations across the state, with fireworks, drum performances, cake-cutting ceremonies and special prayers at temples. While fans celebrated the arrival of the film after a prolonged delay, many also described the occasion as an emotional farewell to Vijay’s three-decade-long acting career.
In Mayiladuthurai, fans performed traditional milk abhishekams on giant cut-outs of the Chief Minister, continuing a long-standing cinematic tradition in Tamil Nadu.
Major theatres in Chennai, including Rohini SilverScreens, Woodlands and Casino, were decorated with massive Jana Nayagan hoardings. One prominent display hailed Vijay as the “one and only power centre” of Tamil Nadu. Many supporters also visited temples early in the day to offer prayers for the film’s success.
A specially designed chariot-like vehicle was used in a town near Chennai to celebrate the release, while another fan attracted attention by painting a luxury car with large images of Vijay. Thousands of admirers also wore customised “Thangamey Thalapathy” T-shirts.
Celebrations extended to border areas, with fans organising DJ events and cake-cutting ceremonies at a theatre near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in Kanyakumari. The film’s international appeal was evident as Japanese fans joined the celebrations at Rohini Cinemas in Chennai.
Amid the festivities, some controversies also surfaced. Complaints of inflated ticket prices were reported, and videos showing arguments over increased ticket rates circulated widely on social media.
Despite these issues, Jana Nayagan dominated the state’s exhibition sector, with the film being screened on around 1,000 of Tamil Nadu’s 1,168 cinema screens.
The emotional significance of the release was echoed by political leaders and long-time supporters. In Coimbatore, Minister V. Sampath Kumar watched the film with fans and said it was a deeply emotional moment, adding that although he had been a fan for more than 30 years, Vijay’s decision to leave cinema reflected his commitment to serving the people as Chief Minister.
In Chennai, Minister Arun Raj praised Vijay’s discipline and dedication, saying the qualities that made him successful in the film industry were now being carried into public life. He said Vijay had chosen to focus completely on politics rather than balancing two careers.
Special screenings in Chennai were attended by several prominent personalities, including music composer Anirudh Ravichander, Speaker JCD Prabhakar, actress Keerthy Suresh, Senior Minister N. Anand and producer Venkat Narayana.
Many fans said Vijay’s transition from actor to Chief Minister had also changed the way they celebrated. A supporter named Kaniraj said fans cooperated with police instructions to ensure public order, adding that they did not want their celebrations to bring disrepute to the Chief Minister.
Families also turned out in large numbers. In Namakkal, a fan named Jyothi Lakshmi said she brought her young daughter to watch the film, adding that the child skipped school because it was both her first Vijay film in theatres and the actor’s last. Another fan pledged continued support for Vijay’s political journey, saying his admirers would stand firmly behind him.
Before the public release, Chief Minister Vijay and a select group of government officials attended a private screening of the film in Chennai, bringing an end to his celebrated journey in cinema.
Media reports have claimed that Jana Nayagan was mounted on a grand budget, with Vijay reportedly receiving between ₹220 crore and ₹275 crore for the film, although the figures remain unverified. Reports also suggested director H. Vinoth was paid ₹25 crore, composer Anirudh Ravichander ₹13 crore, actress Pooja Hegde ₹6 crore and actor Bobby Deol between ₹5 crore and ₹10 crore. Other reported remunerations include ₹5 crore for Prakash Raj, ₹3 crore each for Priyamani and Gautham Vasudev Menon, ₹2.5 crore for Narain, and between ₹60 lakh and ₹2 crore for Mamitha Baiju. None of these figures have been officially confirmed by the filmmakers or independently verified.
