The buzz around actor Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan, has translated into staggering ticket prices, with rates climbing up to Rs 2,000 for select shows even before its theatrical release. Scheduled to hit screens on January 9 as a Pongal release, the H Vinoth directorial has already triggered massive demand in regions where bookings have opened.
In Tamil Nadu, ticket sales remain on hold, reportedly due to the film awaiting certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Trade tracking website Sacnilk has indicated that theatres are exercising caution and delaying ticket releases to avoid last-minute complications. Reports suggest the CBFC has recommended a few changes to the film, prompting exhibitors to stay in a wait-and-watch mode. For now, advance bookings are open only in Karnataka, Kerala and overseas territories.
Advance ticket sales began in Karnataka, and theatres in Bengaluru witnessed near-instant sell-outs for early morning shows despite premium pricing. At Mukunda Theatre, a 6:30 am show on release day was listed at Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,000, with all tickets snapped up swiftly on BookMyShow. Several other theatres—including Swagath Shankar Nag, Sri Vinayaka, Cinephile HSR Layout, Gopalan Grand Mall, Sri Krishna, Brundha RGB, Vaibhav and Prasanna—also reported full houses for morning shows, where ticket prices ranged between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500.
In a few venues, the lowest-priced morning tickets were available for around Rs 800, while shows scheduled from 9:30 am and 10 am onwards were priced between Rs 300 and Rs 800. The overwhelming response underscores the hype surrounding what is being positioned as Vijay’s farewell to cinema.
Interestingly, the pricing pattern varies sharply across regions. In Kochi, for instance, the highest ticket rate currently stands at Rs 350, a stark contrast to Karnataka’s premium fares. Meanwhile, bookings are yet to open in major markets such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
Jana Nayagan stars Mamitha Baiju, Pooja Hegde and Bobby Deol alongside Vijay and marks his last film before he transitions fully into politics. The film is also rumoured to be a remake of Anil Ravipudi’s 2023 Telugu hit Bhagavanth Kesari, starring Balakrishna.
