Delays, controversy, and now a leak. ‘Jana Nayagan’, starring Vijay, has been facing multiple delays since January amid controversy and certification issues but according to his father S A Chandrasekhar, none of it has come as a shock to Vijay.
In a recent chat with Behindwoods, Chandrasekhar spoke candidly about how the film has been stuck since January. According to him, Vijay had already anticipated challenges when he chose to work on the project while stepping into politics with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party.

He explained that Vijay had openly addressed this during the audio launch in Malaysia, warning the producer about possible roadblocks. Chandrasekhar said, “If the film had been released without any hurdles, we would have been surprised. Don't say you didn't expect problems. When Vijay signed the film, he told the producer during the audio launch held in Malaysia, see, you are making a film when I am heading to politics. I hope you are aware of the hurdles the film would face. Are you okay with that? He knew it would face hurdles. That is why he said the same. It was well expected. We are not shocked.”

‘Jana Nayagan’, which is said to be inspired by the 2023 film ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’, reportedly carries references to the TVK party along with strong political undertones. This appears to have complicated its certification process.

The film ran into trouble with the Central Board of Film Certification, despite KVN Productions taking the matter to court. As a result, its release plans were stalled.

Leak controversy adds to the chaos

As if the delays were not enough, the film was allegedly leaked online. Reports suggest that a freelance assistant editor, who was working on a different project, was behind the leak. The incident led to police action, with nine individuals being arrested in connection with the case.

Reacting to this, Chandrasekhar remarked, “Criminal minds first attack the heart and then go break the financial route.” He also added that it is both “speculative and natural” for people to suspect the involvement of opposition parties in the leak.

The timing of all this is particularly significant, as Vijay is preparing to contest the Tamil Nadu elections on April 23. The film had originally been planned as a Pongal release in January and was heavily promoted as his final film before fully stepping into politics.

However, the release was put on hold after it was referred to the revising committee. The situation took another turn when the film surfaced online on April 9, further complicating matters.

Directed by H Vinoth, ‘Jana Nayagan’ features an ensemble cast including Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, and Priyamani.