Watch: Vijay Fans Pour Milk On Posters, Perform Aarti As ‘Jana Nayagan’ Hits Theatres
Vijay's final film ‘Jana Nayagan’ opened to festival-like celebrations across Tamil Nadu, with fans turning theatres into carnival grounds as the much-awaited project finally hit the big screens.
The wait of over six months is finally over. Across Tamil Nadu, the release of Jana Nayagan – the final film of actor-turned-Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay – has transformed theatres into massive arenas. Directed by H Vinoth, the film's Thursday release is being celebrated not just as a cinematic event, but as a massive festival akin to Diwali or Pongal by fans and cadres of his political party, TVK. The pre-release festivities kicked off late Wednesday night with spectacular drone shows in Chennai and laser beams shooting into the night sky outside venues like Woodlands and Casino theatres, accompanied by special cultural performances.
The dedication of Vijay’s fans is unparalleled: giant cut-outs and banners dominate major crossings, while fans conduct abhishekam (pouring milk) on his posters, break coconuts, perform aarti, and hold special pujas.
Madurai TN:
TVK cadres pour milk, offer aarti, perform rituals worshipping CM Vijay's posters celebrating release of 'Jana Nayagan'. pic.twitter.com/wgPrYkdsrl— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) July 23, 2026
Tirunelveli, TN:
Vijay's fan climbs up a cut-out poster, performs Milk Abhishekam to celebrate release of 'Jana Nayagan' film; detained later pic.twitter.com/RV6WigNnSK— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) July 23, 2026
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Fans celebrated the release of 'Jana Nayagan,' starring Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, with great enthusiasm at Shanthi Theatre pic.twitter.com/oRjOHMDzTv
— IANS (@ians_india) July 23, 2026
Outside Chennai’s Rohini Theatre, an aarti was performed for Vijay’s posters, and a full-fledged DJ setup had thousands dancing at Tirunelveli’s Muthuram Multiplex. The mania even crossed borders, with a group of fans from Japan reportedly flying to Chennai just to experience the release.
In Kanyakumari, fans cut a massive cake proudly reading, ‘Jana Nayagan: One Last Time’. In neighbouring Kerala, celebrations continued as fans turned up for a 6 AM show at a theatre in Wayanad. The star power attracted other celebrities as well; actress Keerthy Suresh was spotted arriving at Vettri theatre to watch the film, while reports suggested Trisha was expected at Rohini Theatre. Vijay himself caught a special screening with officials on Wednesday evening.
The emotional weight of Vijay’s move to a full-time political career is heavy for his audience. A Mumbai fan told PTI, “It is a very emotional moment for many of us. We never thought it would come to this. I have been watching Vijay's films for the last 15 years. Even if the film is not good, we won't complain. At least we will get to see him on screen one last time.” Another added, “As a Mumbaikar and Gen Z, I love Vijay. He inspires me. There is no expectation from the film. I am here to celebrate it and enjoy watching it in the theatre.”
TVK politicians are equally swept up in the frenzy. Tamil Nadu Transport Minister Vijay Tamilan Parthiban shared that he has a small role in the film, stating it was his "golden time." TVK legislator KV Vijaydhamu declared, "Tomorrow I will forget that I am an MLA and will enjoy the cinema as a fan," and announced an initiative to distribute helmets to about 100 people in Chennai as souvenirs alongside Minister N Anand.
Meanwhile, TN Minister Arunraj dismissed comparisons between the film's massive rollout and the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests. “Don't compare protests with a film release," Arunraj stated. "There are many problems that need to be addressed. We are emotional about this film.”
‘Jana Nayagan’ has arrived in over 3,500 theatres after originally being slated for a Pongal/January release. A long battle with the CBFC forced the makers to take a legal route for clearance before it could hit screens.
Now, the box office is roaring in Tamil Nadu. According to Sacnilk, advance bookings, including blocked seats, crossed Rs 22.26 crore. Vishnu Kamal, Director of Kamala Cinemas, noted the film is a festival, revealing that the 25th-day celebration show (August 16) went "Housefull" in just 5 minutes. To accommodate the demand, Puducherry allowed a special 7 AM morning show, while CM Vijay previously permitted cinemas to screen five shows daily for the first seven days in Tamil Nadu.
However, the release isn't completely without hiccups. Allegations of inflated ticket costs have surfaced, complete with social media videos showing arguments over rates. Furthermore, while Chennai shows are completely sold out, the buzz is relatively muted outside Tamil Nadu. Bookings in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kerala, and North India are seeing a slower trend, and dubbed versions in Hindi and Telugu have generated limited buzz. Early live updates also indicate some fans were disappointed with Bobby Deol's role, despite being impressed by the interval.
The film features a prominent ensemble cast, including Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, and Narain.
