Vijay's Jana Nayagan Set to Release After Censorship Battle
After months of uncertainty due to a censorship battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), director H Vinothβs Jana Nayagan , starring actor-turned-politician Vijay in the lead role, is all set for release. One of the most anticipated Indian films of the year, since it was supposed to mark Vijayβs swansong before his full-fledged political entry in the run-up to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Jana Nayagan was initially scheduled to hit the screens on January 9, coinciding with the Pongal season. Donβt Miss | βI have no positives as an actorβ: When Mammootty revealed how he overcame his βnegativesβ However, it became embroiled in a certification battle, leading to its release being postponed indefinitely. The movie finally received an βAβ certificate earlier this month, after which the makers announced that Jana Nayagan would hit the screens on Thursday, July 23. With its release right around the corner, the political action dramaβs advance bookings have commenced, and tickets are selling like hotcakes. Vijay, who currently serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, is already demonstrating his command over the box office, which remains undiminished, despite it being almost two years since his last film, director Venkat Prabhuβs The Greatest of All Time , hit the screens. Must Read | When Kamal Haasan cried for an entire day after learning the βtruthβ about his mother Within hours of ticket sales beginning, Jana Nayagan earned Rs 6.7 crore (including block seats) in the domestic market as of 7 pm on Sunday, July 19. While the Tamil edition of the movie has grossed Rs 3.86 crore through the sale of 1,33,904 tickets across 2,399 shows, the Telugu and Hindi versions of the film are yet to gain momentum, according to industry tracker Sacnilk . Interestingly, the political action drama has registered Rs 2.59 crore (including block seats) in Karnataka, followed by Rs 2.47 crore in Tamil Nadu and Rs 1.32 crore in Kerala. Advance bookings for the movie are expected to surge in the coming hours, leading to a bumper opening on July 23. However, it remains to be seen whether Jana Nayagan will break director Lokesh Kanagarajβs Rajinikanth-led Coolieβs record (Rs 151 crore) to deliver the highest day-one worldwide collection for a Tamil film. This record previously belonged to Vijayβs Leo (Rs 148.5 crore). Also starring Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Narain, and Nassar in key roles, Jana Nayagan features music by Anirudh Ravichander. Also Read | Malayalamβs answer to Pushpa? Why Rs 35 cr actioner Kattalan met shocking fate at box office During a recent interview, producer K Venkata Narayana of KVN Productions, which bankrolled the film, had revealed that they are targeting a release across 7,000 to 8,000 screens in more than 30 countries. He also mentioned that the film has undergone substantial changes from the version that was at the centre of the censorship controversy. βThere have been a lot of modifications and additions to the film. What audiences are going to experience in theatres is very different, with the addition of some songs and several changes. This movie has gone through many challenges since the beginning of the year to reach where it is today,β he told NDTV .