The highly anticipated release of Thalapathy Vijay's final film before his political plunge, Jana Nayagan, has been thrown into uncertainty. The film's scheduled January 9 release is now in serious doubt due to an unexpected delay in obtaining certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Court Hearing Offers No Relief, Fresh CBFC Committee Appointed
Despite the film's producers moving the Madras High Court on Tuesday, January 6, seeking urgent clearance, they did not receive the relief they hoped for. The hearing was adjourned to Wednesday afternoon. During the proceedings, the court questioned the urgency, asking why the release could not be postponed from the 10th.
In a significant development, the CBFC informed the High Court that a fresh committee has been appointed to review the movie again. This new review process directly contradicts the makers' plans for a timely release, leaving fans, theatre owners, and the production team in a state of limbo.
Advance Bookings Stalled, Pongal Clash Dynamics
The certification delay has had an immediate practical impact. While advance bookings had opened in a limited capacity in some states, most theatres in Tamil Nadu have yet to commence ticket sales for Jana Nayagan. Theatre owners are hesitant to open bookings without the certainty of a certified print.
Interestingly, the film Jana Nayagan was slated to clash with at the box office, director Sudha Kongara's Sivakarthikeyan-led Parasakthi, which is scheduled for release on January 10. Reports indicate that Parasakthi is also facing a similar CBFC certification hurdle, with its advance bookings not yet in full swing. This has created a tense situation where both major Pongal releases are caught in a bureaucratic hold-up.
Fan Resentment and Theatre Allegations
The competition has spilled over beyond the screen, leading to alleged online abuse. A theatre in Kumbakonam, Vasu Cinemas, took to social media to share its ordeal after choosing to screen Parasakthi over Jana Nayagan. The theatre stated it received shocking comments filled with abuse, vulgarity, and curses on platforms like X and Instagram, which disturbed their mental peace.
The theatre's note emphasized its long-standing support for Vijay's films but explained it had "several reasons" for its current choice. Vijay's fans, however, were not appeased, launching counter-attacks in the comment sections, accusing the theatre of betrayal and aligning with rival camps.
Trailer Performance and Audience Buzz
While Jana Nayagan is undoubtedly the most hyped film of the season, primarily because it marks Vijay's cinematic farewell, its recently released trailer garnered mixed reactions. In contrast, Parasakthi's trailer, showcasing its period political drama theme, has captured significant attention.
In terms of raw numbers, Parasakthi's official Tamil trailer has surpassed Jana Nayagan's in total views. Parasakthi garnered 43 million views and 4.64 lakh likes in under two days, while Jana Nayagan's trailer amassed 40 million views and 1.3 million likes in less than three days on YouTube.
As the clock ticks down to the intended release date, the entire Tamil film industry and millions of fans await the CBFC's final decision and the High Court's next hearing. The fate of Thalapathy Vijay's last cinematic hurrah hangs in the balance, making its potential release one of the most dramatic stories in Indian entertainment this year.
