Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s much-awaited film ‘Jana Nayagan’, billed as his final movie before fully dedicating himself to politics, hit theatres across Tamil Nadu on Thursday amid massive fanfare, record advance bookings and heightened security arrangements.
The film has been released in nearly 1,000 screens across the state, with theatres witnessing festival-like celebrations by fans.
‘Jana Nayagan’ Records Strong Advance Bookings Before Release
Ahead of the release, Chief Minister Vijay watched a special screening of the film with his family at the Tagore Film Centre in Adyar, Chennai, on Wednesday.
The screening was attended by Vijay’s parents and senior government officials, including Chief Secretary Sai Kumar, Private Secretary Senthil Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Siddiq, and producer Venkata Narayana.
Originally scheduled for release on January 9, Jana Nayagan was delayed after awaiting certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The film also faced a setback after portions were leaked online before its theatrical release. However, the leak did little to affect public enthusiasm, with advance bookings witnessing an overwhelming response.
According to trade estimates, the film registered more than ₹15 crore in advance ticket sales across India and is expected to collect ₹50 crore to ₹60 crore on its opening day.
Several theatres reportedly opened ticket bookings during the early hours to accommodate the surge in demand.
Black Market Ticket Allegations Surface
Despite the successful advance bookings, several fans alleged that tickets were being sold in the black market at inflated prices.
Social media users claimed that tickets priced officially at regular rates were being resold for ₹500 to ₹800, while some reportedly fetched as much as ₹2,000.
Others alleged that only limited tickets were made available through online booking platforms.
Across Tamil Nadu, fans organised special celebrations outside theatres, including music performances, cut-outs, and early morning shows.
Theatre owners said the excitement surrounding Jana Nayagan remained consistent with previous Vijay releases and expressed confidence that audiences would continue to support the theatrical experience despite the online leak.
The film also places Vijay in a unique position, making him only the second Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) to have a film released while serving in office.
Meanwhile, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has instructed its ministers and party functionaries to ensure that celebrations remain peaceful and orderly.
Jana Nayagan has received an ‘A’ certificate from the CBFC, restricting admission to adult audiences. Party leaders have described the release as a significant milestone in Vijay’s transition from cinema icon to Chief Minister.
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