It is said that the whole cast and crew of Jana Nayagan got emotional on the final day of shoot, as it is Vijay's last film. As the film from director H Vinoth hit theatres, some of the cast and crew members carried on that emotion on social media. Earlier this Thursday, actor Pooja Hegde shared behind-the-scenes stills from the film with Vijay and wrote her thoughts, including throwbacks to Beast's 'Arabic Kuthu' song.
Costume designer Varshini Natrajan, who worked under Pallavi Singh on Jana Nayagan, also shared her thoughts about working with Vijay on the film. "Some journeys quietly change who you are. As a little girl dancing to 'Aal Thotta Bhoopathi,' years later as someone sitting in the very first row watching Beast in Bangalore because that’s all the ticket I could get, I never imagined that one day I’d spend almost three years working alongside the very person I had admired on screen."
Varshini added, "I remember watching Halamithi Habibo and thinking, “Maybe one day, if I’m lucky, I’ll get to work on even one song.” Life had other plans. Not one song. Not one film. But , I have so many days of work. Songs. Scenes. Memories. Moments that I’ll carry with me forever."
She expressed her gratitude to her "boss," Jana Nayagan costume designer Pallavi Singh. "I owe that beginning to my boss Pallavi Singh, who believed in me, trusted me with an opportunity that could have gone to anyone, and let the journey unfold naturally. That trust changed my life, and I will always be grateful for it. There were days I wanted to give up. Days I questioned myself. But somehow, watching Vijay sir remain so grounded, so calm, so optimistic no matter what the world said, reminded me to keep going."
It is worth noting that before the release of Jana Nayagan and the announcement of the Tamil Nadu election results, Vijay endured much flak, including criticism for the Karur stampede, and speculation about his relationships.
Interestingly, Varshini said that her biggest takeaway from working on the film is not related to cinema as such. "It’s that simplicity is strength. Silence is powerful. Humility never goes out of style. And if you truly believe in something, you keep showing up until it becomes your reality," she wrote. You can read her full note here:
