Madurai witnessed a festival-like atmosphere as ‘Jananayagan’, starring Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, hit screens on Thursday. With the film being billed as his final acting outing, fans celebrated loudly, and some were seen leaving theatres in tears after the show.
The release came after delays linked to issues in obtaining the censor certificate. The film opened 75 days after Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister, and was released in more than 5,000 theatres worldwide. In Madurai, celebrations began the previous night with DJs, performances and drum beats outside cinema halls.
Ahead of the first show, fans burst crackers, performed milk abhishekam, distributed sweets and danced—women fans also joining in. Police security was deployed at many theatres to prevent untoward incidents.
As the film received an ‘A’ certificate, families who arrived with children were turned away. With no permission for special shows in Tamil Nadu, screenings began at 9:00 am. The title card reportedly opens with a gesture mocking the DMK in the Assembly and introduces the film as starring “Hon’ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thalapathy C. Joseph Vijay.”
Dialogues such as “If you don’t follow the Constitution of India, you will have to follow my law” drew loud applause. The film also includes lines targeting dynastic politics and contains indirect campaigning references to TVK, according to the report. Ministers Anand, Arunraj, Srinath and Vijay Tamizhan Parthiban appear in cameo roles—said to be a first in Tamil Nadu for a sitting Chief Minister and four ministers to act in a film. Key songs were replayed “once more” during the first show at fans’ request.
