More than six long months. A censorship certificate battle. A legal case. A piracy issue. Jana Nayagan has weathered the tempestuous storms and has finally opened in theatres on Thursday, to much fanfare and celebration. Fans of the actor-turned-chief minister can now be seen stepping out of theatres with an adrenaline rush combined with wet eyes, as they watched their favourite star on the big screen, one last time.
Meanwhile, fans and members of the audience have already started penning their reviews for the H Vinoth directorial. While fans have found Vijay's screen presence celebratory, reviews online have described the film to be middling at best and underwhelming at worst.
One X user asked fans to skip the film in theatres. "#JanaNayagan I would recommend #ThalapathyVijay fans skip this terrible movie in theaters and wait for OTT. Such a misfire in every way and not even one good scene other than #ThalapathyKacheri we deserve better than this crapfest! Worst direction by #HVinoth #JanaNayaganFDFS," the review read.
Another user called the film a "painful farewell" for Vijay. The user wrote, "#JanaNayagan A Painful Farewell for Vijay! Apart from a few elevation blocks and Anirudh’s score in places, nothing works here. H. Vinoth’s execution is very sloppy, and the changes he made, especially the subplots, feel completely outdated. Bobby Deol’s villain track is atrocious and laughable at times. VFX and production values are poor, editing is all over the place, the core emotional moments from the original are inserted without any proper flow, and the climax tests your patience to the max. Outright Disappointing!"
A member of the audience from the North of India wrote, "Balayya and Sreleela had more chemistry than Vijay and Mamitha Baiju as the model father-daughter relationship," comparing Jana Nayagan to Bhagavanth Kesari. He further continued, "The movie is in conflict between Vijay's PSA to the world for a better tomorrow for Tamil Nadu vs the action entertainer H Vinoth wanted to make."
However, not all reviews were negative. One review read, "#JanaNayagan : REVIEW. Everything clicks beautifully here. H. Vinoth delivers an engaging commercial entertainer with well-executed emotional moments and impactful elevation blocks. The father–daughter emotion forms the heart of the film, Bobby Deol is a powerful antagonist, and the production values, action, and visuals complement the scale. Anirudh's background score is electrifying, while Vijay once again proves why he's one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema."
A user mentioned that the film had a lot of cameos and wrote that the film did not deserve an 'A' certificate. "#JanaNayagan a great entertainer!!! A lot of cameos, political references, stardom and nostalgia. Surprised why it didn’t get U/A as the movie largely seems to be kids / teens friendly throughout," their post read.
One user, proved to be a true fan, as their post read, "#JanaNayagan Review. First Half – Pure MASS! Every elevation lands perfectly. Second Half – An absolute BLAST! H. Vinoth delivers a gripping, politically charged screenplay that takes the film to another level. Don't miss the final one minute of the "Kacheri" dance. A perfect send-off for Thalapathy that will leave every fan emotional. One last whistle. One last celebration. One last Thalapathy festival on the big screen. Thank you, #ThalapathyVijay, for 30+ years of unforgettable memories."
