As Thalapathy Vijay prepares for his final cinematic outing before diving full-time into politics, his upcoming film Jana Nayagan is generating unprecedented pre-release buzz, marked by massive advance bookings and an unexpected regulatory hurdle. Scheduled for a grand theatrical release on January 9, the political action drama is poised for a historic opening, having already amassed a staggering ₹35 crore in worldwide pre-sales even before advance bookings opened in its home state of Tamil Nadu.
Advance Booking Frenzy and Ticket Price Surge
The film's commercial power is evident from its blistering advance booking numbers. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, 2,73,460 tickets have been sold for the opening day alone from 2,297 shows, translating to an advance collection of ₹7.27 crore at an average ticket price of ₹215. Platforms like BookMyShow report that early shows at major single-screen theatres are already sold out.
A major talking point has been the ticket pricing, especially in states outside Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka, tickets for the First-Day-First-Show (FDFS) are reportedly being sold for as high as ₹2,000 and ₹1,800 in single-screen theatres. This contrasts sharply with Tamil Nadu, where government regulations cap ticket prices at ₹190. The film is also performing exceptionally well overseas, with international advance bookings crossing the ₹25 crore mark.
CBFC Certificate Delay and Political Undertones
Just days before its Pongal release, Jana Nayagan has hit an unexpected roadblock. The film, along with Sivakarthikeyan's Parasakthi (releasing January 10), is facing significant delays in receiving certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite the makers submitting the film on December 18 and agreeing to minor suggested edits, the final certificate is still pending.
This delay has sparked concern and chaos within the Tamil film industry and is seen by many as highlighting the underlying political tensions between Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the ruling DMK ahead of state elections. In response, the film's producer, KVN Productions, has moved the Madras High Court with an urgent petition. The court has scheduled a hearing for 2:15 PM on Wednesday to address the matter.
Box Office Predictions and Star-Studded Cast
Despite the certification uncertainty, trade analysts are predicting a mammoth opening for Vijay's farewell film. Based on current booking momentum, Jana Nayagan is targeting an opening-day collection of around ₹10.05 crore in India, with expectations of a surge closer to the release date. The film sets the stage for a major box office clash with Sivakarthikeyan's Parasakthi.
Directed by H. Vinoth and produced on a massive budget estimated at ₹300 crore, Jana Nayagan boasts a powerful ensemble cast. Vijay is joined by Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, and Priyamani. The film is positioned as a political action drama, marking the end of an era in Tamil cinema as Vijay's last project before his political plunge.
The Hindi-dubbed version, titled Jan Neta, however, has seen a tepid response in advance sales, having sold only 79 tickets so far. All eyes are now on the Madras High Court's decision and whether the film will meet its slated January 9 release date to capitalize on the enormous audience anticipation.
