H Vinoth's latest actioner Jana Nayagan, which marks Vijay's farewell film, has set the box office ringing across India. Fans and audiences are continuing to throng theatres to witness their favourite star-turned-Chief Minister on the big screen for one last time. With the film guaranteed to register a blockbuster run, the director had recently stated that the film's run would have been "unstoppable" had it received a U/A rating.
Speaking at a recent event organised by Behindwoods, the Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru filmmaker expressed his happiness over the successful theatrical run of Jana Nayagan and confirmed that the film has grossed over Rs 100 crore in India. However, he also admitted to having one regret—that the film fell short of its full box office potential, especially considering it marks Vijay's final on-screen appearance. He said, "Vijay would have written in his recent tweet, 'Needhi Vellum' (Justice will prevail). Today, I feel we have gotten that justice. I'm very happy about the box office collections. About 1.2 crore people downloaded the film when it was leaked online. I am not sure to how many it was shared and how many actually saw it. Vijay also has a lot of political enemies. Despite all these issues, people have extended their full support for the film, which I am thankful for. However, if the film had received a U/A rating from CBFC, it would have become an unstoppable victory. But it's okay."
Jana Nayagan was originally slated for a Pongal release in January this year but eventually hit theatres on July 23 after a prolonged six-month battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Ahead of its release, the Vijay-starrer was awarded an 'A' certificate, with the board recommending 12 cuts and modifications before granting clearance. The film was also a victim to a large-scale piracy in April where the entire duration was leaked online, bringing a huge setback for the makers. Recently, the Chennai Police informed the Madras High Court that approximately 1.2 crore people viewed the illegal leak.
Despite these setbacks, Jana Nayagan crossed the Rs 200 crore mark worldwide in just four days of its release and is inching towards the Rs 300 crore milestone. A partial remake of 2023 National Award-winning Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari, headlined by Nandamuri Balakrishna, Jana Nayagan boasts a star-studded ensemble featuring Mamitha Baiju, Pooja Hegde, and Bobby Deol, alongside Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain and Priyamani.