A heated fan war has erupted in Tamil Nadu ahead of one of the most anticipated cinematic clashes of 2026. Supporters of superstar Thalapathy Vijay and actor Sivakarthikeyan are at loggerheads as their respective films, 'Jana Nayagan' and 'Parasakthi', are set for a tight Pongal release. The tension escalated over the weekend when a group allegedly tore down promotional material for Sivakarthikeyan's film.
Poster Vandalism Sparks Controversy
The conflict moved from online banter to real-world action in Madurai. A viral video captured a group of individuals tearing down posters of Sivakarthikeyan's 'Parasakthi' outside the city's Ritzy Cinemas. The incident reportedly occurred during a trailer screening event for Thalapathy Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan'.
The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing widespread condemnation from netizens who criticized the act of vandalism. Many users expressed disappointment over the toxic fan culture. However, a contrasting narrative also emerged online. A section of commentators suggested the act was a planned setup to malign the political image of Thalapathy Vijay, who is poised to enter full-time politics after this film.
The video was shared with a Tamil caption that translated to: "Vijay fans tore down the Parasakthi banner at the theater where the Jana Nayagan trailer was released. They can't even tolerate a single movie coming; what all will they do tomorrow?"
The Inevitable Box Office Showdown
The core of this fan rivalry is the impending theatrical clash. Thalapathy Vijay's final film before his full-fledged political plunge, 'Jana Nayagan', is scheduled to hit screens on January 9, 2026. The very next day, January 10, 2026, will see the release of Sivakarthikeyan's 'Parasakthi'. This back-to-back release during the lucrative Pongal festival has set the stage for a major box office battle.
Sivakarthikeyan had previously addressed the clash publicly. During his film's audio launch event, he revealed that he had attempted to postpone 'Parasakthi's' release date. However, the plans remained unchanged after discussions with Vijay's team.
Sivakarthikeyan's Take on the Release Date Drama
Providing more context at a pre-release event, Sivakarthikeyan shared the timeline that led to the clash. "We first thought of releasing 'Parasakthi' during Diwali 2025, but by then the 'Jana Nayagan' team had already fixed that date," he explained. The team then shifted focus to a Pongal 2026 release, only to find that 'Jana Nayagan' had also moved to the same festival period.
"Later, when the 'Jana Nayagan' team also shifted their release to Pongal, I was really shocked," SK admitted. He clarified that he reached out to Vijay's team regarding the clash. The response he received was reassuring. "He told me that Vijay sir believes that since it’s Pongal, both films have enough space to release and will not affect each other at the box office," Sivakarthikeyan recounted. He added that Vijay conveyed his best wishes for 'Parasakthi'.
In a gesture of goodwill and mutual respect, Sivakarthikeyan even urged the audience to support both films. "We are talking about a man who has entertained us for 33 years," he said, referring to Vijay. His appeal was clear: "After that, on January 10, come to the theaters, watch Parasakthi, and celebrate that as well." He encouraged fans to watch 'Jana Nayagan' on January 9 and then enjoy 'Parasakthi' the following day.
Despite the on-ground tensions between fan groups, the actors themselves have shown a professional and collegial approach. The coming weeks will reveal whether this spirit of camaraderie can calm the agitated fans before the films arrive in cinemas.
