In Pictures: CM Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' opens to fan frenzy
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor Vijay's final film, 'Jana Nayagan', has been released to massive fan celebrations across the state. The film's debut follows his recent transition from a successful acting career to full-time politics.
Why it matters
It highlights the unique intersection of celebrity culture and political power in Tamil Nadu, where film stars often leverage massive fan bases to transition into governance.
O n July 23, 2026 (Thursday), Jana Nayagan , starring Tamil Nadu CM and star-actor Vijay hit the screens across the world. Fans across Tamil Nadu turned out in large numbers to celebrate the movie, directed by H Vinoth. Theatres in the state witnessed festive scenes, including drum performances, milk abhishekams on Vijay’s cutouts and posters, and fireworks. The first-day-first-show (FDFS) celebrations reflected the massive anticipation surrounding the film, which is billed as Vijay’s final outing on the silver screen.
Jana Nayagan arrives two months after Vijay assumed office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, marking his transition from cinema to full-time politics. The film faced censorship hurdles ahead of its release. Despite the controversy, fans flocked to theatres to celebrate their favourite star. Here are some pictures of the celebrations:
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in