The cinematic farewell of superstar Thalapathy Vijay is creating a historic storm at the box office even before its release. His upcoming political action thriller, 'Jana Nayagan', has ignited unprecedented global demand, with worldwide advance bookings soaring past an estimated ₹50 crore. This phenomenal response signals one of the biggest openings for a Tamil film in recent years, amplified by the fact that this marks Vijay's final silver screen appearance before he transitions into full-time politics.
Global Frenzy: Records Tumble in Overseas Markets
The film's advance booking numbers tell a story of staggering popularity, especially overseas. Industry trackers report that markets like Malaysia have shown phenomenal demand. Within just 24 hours of bookings opening, the film sold over 90,000 tickets in Malaysia, grossing more than RM 2.1 million. This incredible performance places 'Jana Nayagan' on the verge of breaking the country's existing advance-booking records, currently held by Rajinikanth's 'Coolie' and Vijay's own 'Leo'. The Malaysia Film Censorship Board has certified the film with a '16' rating.
The excitement is not confined to international shores. Domestically, the film is seeing robust pre-sales beyond its traditional Tamil Nadu stronghold. In Kerala, advance ticket revenue has already reached approximately ₹2.36 crore. Pan-India early data indicates that first-day advance bookings, excluding blocked seats, have grossed around ₹5.86 crore. This revenue comes from tickets sold for over 2,070 shows at an average price of about ₹217, with early morning shows in cities like Mumbai selling out quickly.
Plot, Cast, and Pending Legal Hurdles
Directed by H Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, 'Jana Nayagan' features Vijay as a fearless police inspector who takes on a powerful conspiracy involving an extremist group and a influential politician, a plot that threatens the core of Indian democracy. The film, touted as Vijay's "swan song," also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, and Mamitha Baiju.
However, this box office momentum faces a significant regulatory challenge. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has yet to issue the final censor certificate for the Tamil version. This delay prompted the producers to seek urgent intervention from the Madras High Court. KVN Productions argued in their petition that the holdup could cause severe financial and reputational damage.
The court learned that the producers applied for certification on 18 December 2025. An examining committee recommended a U/A certificate with certain cuts, which the producers complied with. However, the final clearance remains pending as the matter was referred to a revising committee. The CBFC informed the court that a newly appointed panel will review the film. The Madras High Court has posted the matter for further hearing on 7 January, with the judge questioning the possibility of postponing the release by a day.
A Record-Breaking Opening on the Horizon
Despite the unresolved certification issue, the sheer scale of advance bookings demonstrates the film's immense pulling power and Vijay's superstar status. Industry observers believe that even with these hurdles, 'Jana Nayagan' is poised for a potentially record-breaking box office performance when it finally hits screens on 9 January. The film's success is being closely watched, not just as a major cinematic event, but as the grand finale of a beloved actor's film career before his political chapter begins.
