Months after CM Vijay’s Jana Nayagan was leaked online in high-definition (HD) ahead of its theatrical release, director H Vinoth has urged audiences to experience the film on the big screen ahead of July 23 release. Acknowledging that many may have already watched the pirated version, the filmmaker said the Vijay-starrer is more than just a commercial entertainer and talks about social issues that warrant a big screen watch.
Speaking to Cinema Vikatan, Vinoth said he hopes audiences will still turn up to watch the film for and its political content. “A lot of people have already watched . I don’t know if they will come back to theatres to watch it again,” he said.
Explaining why audiences should still support the film in cinemas , Vinoth added, “They should come to the theatres because they want to watch Vijay sir. Jana Nayagan is not just a commercial film. It is not merely about praising TVK [Vijay’s political party] either. We have addressed sensitive political issues in the film. My wish is that people watch the content and discuss it.”
The filmmaker also reflected on how dramatically Vijay’s political journey unfolded while Jana Nayagan awaited release. The film was shot before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections (held in April), but by the time it is hitting theatres, after his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single-largest party in the state.
“It feels like a dream to me. Back then, no one said Vijay sir would become the Chief Minister. Even I never imagined it would happen. The fact that he won the election is phenomenal. I think we have underestimated the scale of his victory,” Vinoth said.
He added that despite the political developments, the film’s message has remained unchanged.
“So many extraordinary things have happened in such a short span of time. This film was made before the elections, and even now, the content in the film remains the same,” he said.
Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani, Narain and Nassar, is set to release in theatres on July 23 after a seven-month delay caused by certification issues. The film recently from the CBFC and marks Chief Minister Vijay’s swansong as an actor, making it one of the most anticipated Tamil releases of the year.