Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ steps aside: Can Prabhas’ ‘The Raja Saab’ seize the Pongal box office?

The Pongal/Sankranti box office race took a dramatic turn when 'Jana Nayagan', starring Thalapathy Vijay, was postponed due to a delay in securing its censor certificate. What was expected to be a crowded festive clash suddenly opened up — and the biggest beneficiary of this shift is Prabhas’ 'The Raja Saab'.

Initially, both films were slated to kick off the festive weekend together, with Vijay’s political thriller enjoying massive anticipation, especially given its status as his final film before active politics.

However, with 'Jana Nayagan' stepping out of the race, theatres across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka quickly pivoted, opening additional shows and paid premiere slots for 'The Raja Saab' on January 8, ahead of its full release on January 9.

A Sudden Solo Run for Prabhas

Directed by Maruthi, 'The Raja Saab' is a fantasy horror comedy positioned as a lighter, more grounded entertainer after Prabhas’ run of large-scale spectacles.

While the film was always planned as a pan-India release, it faced stiff competition from 'Jana Nayagan' and ‘Parasakthi’, especially in Tamil-speaking regions where screen allocation was initially limited.

The postponement changed that overnight. In Chennai alone, theatres added multiple shows within minutes of the announcement. Paid premieres at 9 pm on January 8 were introduced to capitalise on the sudden surge, a move expected to push Day 1 numbers upward.

According to Sacnilk, 'The Raja Saab' has already earned Rs 11.67 crore in India (including blocked seats), while overseas markets have contributed close to $1 million (around Rs 9 crore), covering premiere and Day 1 collections.

Also read: Reddit goes full roast mode on ‘The Raja Saab’: Memes fly, CGI dies 

Buzz Rises in the South, North Still Muted

Prabhas did not have a theatrical release in 2025, apart from cameos, narration work, and re-releases. His last full-fledged appearance was Kalki 2898 AD, making 'The Raja Saab' a keenly awaited return for fans, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where buzz has risen sharply post the postponement news.

However, outside the South, especially in the North belt, anticipation remains restrained. Trade estimates peg the domestic opening at Rs 45–50 crore, respectable but below Prabhas’ earlier pan-India benchmarks.

Trade analyst Ramesh Bala points out that while the film features Bollywood faces like Sanjay Dutt and Boman Irani, and taps into the popular horror-comedy genre, it is still perceived largely as a Telugu film leveraging Prabhas’ stardom for a wider release.

Promotion Gap Still a Concern

Another major hurdle remains the lack of aggressive promotion in North India. Analysts note that while films like ‘Baahubali’ (2017) and ‘Salaar’ (2023) benefited from meticulously planned pan-India campaigns, 'The Raja Saab' entered the final stretch with limited visibility beyond the South.

Even a late attempt to attract North audiences through the song ‘Nache Nache’, a remix of a popular Disco Dancer track, may have arrived too close to release to significantly shift perception.

Why Jana Nayagan’s Delay Still Matters

Internationally, 'Jana Nayagan' was expected to dominate due to Vijay’s star power and the emotional pull of his final film. Its postponement now gives 'The Raja Saab' a rare opportunity for a largely solo global release, potentially boosting overseas collections.

In Tamil Nadu, the Tamil version of 'The Raja Saab' is scheduled for January 10, though trade circles believe advancing it to January 9 could further strengthen business, given the newly freed-up screens.

The Big Question

With minimal competition, a festive window, and Prabhas returning after a long theatrical gap, 'The Raja Saab' has everything going for it on paper.

Whether this advantage can offset its low pre-release buzz in non-Telugu markets now depends entirely on word of mouth — and whether audiences embrace this lighter, genre-blending avatar of Prabhas.