‘Jana Nayagan’ opens to frenzy as fans throng theatres for CM Vijay’s last act in the movies

The release of the much-awaited ‘Jana Nayagan,’ Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay’s final act at the movies, created frenzy among fans and was celebrated in the State’s iconic style of hero worship.

Fans thronged theatres for shows early as 8:00 AM and danced their hearts out outside theatres in front of large banners of the actor to some of ‘Thalapathy’s’ classic songs. The insides of the theatres were also not too different as fans went berserk as Thalapathy Vijay’s name flashed on screens, this time with the additional title of “Honourable CM of Tamil Nadu” and displayed glimpses of the actor’s cinematic actions last week at the Assembly.

With this, the movie became the first film with a sitting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister as lead actor, since 1977-78. This was the time when MG Ramachandran’s two movies Meenava Nanban and Maduraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan were released while he served as CM.

The movie also conclude with a special tribute tracing the actor’s various avatars in his over 30 years of movie journey leaving many fans teary-eyed.

The experience was much more exciting for fans as they have waited a long time for this movie to hit the screens. Bookings platform BookMyShow said in a post on X that it had recorded 1.2 million advance bookings for the movie, “and the hype keeps getting stronger.”

The production company KVN Productions had originally planned to release the movie in January this year, timed with the Pongal festival that is always marked by big movie releases in the State. However, the Central Board of Film Certification did not grant the movie certification, and after months of wait and discussions between the committee and the producers, the movie finally got an ‘A’ certificate.

It was during this turbulent period that the actor and his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) went all in on the State elections and formed the government with Vijay also crowned the CM.

Titled Jana Nayagan (meaning democracy), the film mirrors the actor’s own rise to power this year with plenty of politically loaded statements and moments, say fans who caught the movie on Thursday.

This made it a complete festive atmosphere in the TN and one could also see various ministers of the State including N Anand (Bussy Anand), Minister for Local Administration, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj; Minister for Fisheries A Srinath, and even the senior leader K A Sengottaiayan, walking into the theatres to catch the first screenings of the movie. In fact, both Arunraj and Srinath are also said to have made appearances in the movie.

“Director H. Vinoth has made it a complete Thalapathy entertainer keeping his swashbuckling hero image with lots of whistle-worthy moments and a message on women empowerment,” writes leading film reviewer Sreedhar Pillai, in a post on X. “The film works due to the charismatic Vijay, the one-man entertainment troupe...There are drawbacks in the writing like stretched template scenes and a stereotyped villain,” he adds.

Chennai-based communications professional Yaash Raju, who caught the first show of the movie, said, “I didn’t walk into the theatre expecting a masterpiece, I walked in for one man “Thalapathy Vijay”. The story didn’t work for me, but the emotions did.” Seeing people celebrate, dancing to ‘Thalapathy Kacheri’ with half the theatre on its feet, made me realise this wasn’t just another movie; it was the final celebration of the actor who defined our childhood. Someone we have seen evolving from Ilayathalapathy to Thalapathy, and now Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”

The content of the movie itself may have failed to live up to the hype, but as a fan walking out of theatres said, “Jana Nayagan is our Thalapathy’s farewell party from movies, and that means much more than any script. We will miss Vijay the actor.”

Published on July 23, 2026