New Delhi: The much-awaited last film of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Jana Nayagan, was released in theatres on 23 July. With sold-out theatres and celebrations outside cinema halls, fans celebrated the film before the first show even began.
Directed by H Vinoth, the political action drama released more than six months after a dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification. Jana Nayagan was eventually approved with an A certificate after 12 changes; it was originally scheduled for a January 2026 release. The film also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Narain. Anirudh Ravichander has composed the music.
Fans queued outside theatres overnight, burst crackers and danced to drum beats. Inside, audiences cheered Vijay’s introduction and dance sequences. Some viewers praised his screen presence and his scenes with Baiju. Others criticised the screenplay, visual effects and Deol’s villain track.
For others still, the movie was an emotional experience. Several X users remarked how moved they were watching Vijay’s last film before he stepped away to pursue politics full time.
“Just walked out of Jana Nayagan, and tears won’t stop. Thank you for the magic, the whistles, and the lifetime of memories. We are going to miss you,” read one X post.
“For a moment, it felt like my soul had left my body. I broke down in silence, tears falling as I cried into the noise so no one could hear me,” another user posted.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)