Jana Nayagan review: Vijay’s farewell film sets Tamil Nadu theatres buzzing

Thalapathy Vijay returns to the big screen one last time with Jana Nayagan, his much-awaited farewell film, which finally hit theatres on July 23 after a seven-month delay.

Here’s why the film has generated unprecedented buzz:

• Vijay’s final film: Jana Nayagan has been promoted as Vijay’s last movie before he fully dedicates himself to politics after becoming Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister.
• Star-studded cast: Vijay plays a righteous protagonist, while Bobby Deol stars as the main antagonist. The film also features Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj and Narain.
• Political action thriller: Directed by H. Vinoth, the film is partly inspired by the Telugu hit Bhagavanth Kesari.
• Delayed release: Originally scheduled for January 2026, the film was postponed after certification issues with the CBFC led to a prolonged legal dispute. Producers claimed substantial financial losses because of the delay.
• Politics added to the delay: During the postponement, Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), won the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and he was sworn in as Chief Minister, further pushing back the release.
• Finally cleared: The CBFC granted the film an A certificate in July, paving the way for its theatrical release on July 23.
• Record-breaking advance bookings: Advance ticket sales opened on July 19, with more than one million tickets sold for the opening day in India, generating around ₹22 crore in pre-sales.
• Festival-like celebrations: Fans and TVK supporters have turned the release into a grand celebration, marking what is widely seen as Vijay’s emotional farewell to cinema.