Vijay’s final film before entering full-time politics has faced repeated delays due to certification problems and piracy leaks. Now, after becoming CM, he is personally pushing to get ‘Jana Nayagan’ released soon.
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Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has wasted no time in picking up an unfinished thread from his film career, directing attention toward the long-delayed release of ‘Jana Nayagan’ just days after taking office.
Media reports have confirmed that CM Vijay personally instructed ‘Jana Nayagan’ producer Venkat K. Narayana to cut short his attendance at the Cannes Film Festival and return to Chennai. Venkat, who heads KVN Productions, was in France for the prestigious annual festival when he received word from Vijay asking him to head back. He is now reportedly on his way to Chennai amid the latest push to get the film cleared and into theatres.
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‘Jana Nayagan’ has been billed as his farewell to cinema before his full-time transition into politics, and the Chief Minister appears determined to see it through.
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‘Jana Nayagan’ was set to release on Pongal, January 14 this year, but found itself stuck in a prolonged standoff with the Central Board of Film Certification, which withheld clearance for months.
The film’s scheduled screening before the CBFC Revising Committee was suddenly called off on March 9 at the last minute after one of the committee members fell ill.
Sources now indicate that efforts are actively underway to secure the required approvals. The film has been sitting with the revising committee for several weeks. Once the certificate is issued, the production team is expected to move swiftly on finalising distribution, logistics, and a confirmed release date.
The extended delay came with serious financial consequences. As the film kept getting pushed back, it was leaked illegally on piracy websites and through satellite TV channels in parts of Tamil Nadu. Reports indicated that Prime Video, which had earlier agreed to pay ₹120 crore for the OTT rights, revised its offer sharply downward to ₹50 crore following the widespread circulation of pirated copies.
The Madras High Court issued an injunction restraining cable operators and internet service providers from broadcasting or enabling access to pirated copies of the film until June 2, 2026.
Even before the Cannes development, the production side had signalled that the end of the wait was near. Producer Venkat K. Narayana, speaking to reporters in Chennai on May 10, confirmed that the CBFC certification process was in its final stages and that ‘Jana Nayagan’ would be released within the next 14 days.
Venkat also spoke warmly of Vijay during that interaction, describing him as someone known for keeping his commitments, and noted that the film’s title reflects a leadership image connected with ordinary people. Industry sources suggest a release around May 24, 2026 is being targeted.
The film is a Tamil-language political action thriller directed by H. Vinoth, co-starring Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, and Mamitha Baiju, alongside Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prakash Raj. It is a remake of the 2023 Telugu blockbuster ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’, produced on a budget estimated between ₹300 crore and ₹500 crore.
Reports suggest the film will introduce Vijay with a revised title card reading “Chief Minister” before his name.
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