Vijay's Jana Nayagan Delay Costs Tamil Nadu Theatres ₹100 Crore, Industry on Brink of Crisis

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The eagerly anticipated farewell film of actor-politician Vijay, Jana Nayagan, helmed by H Vinoth, remains stuck in limbo due to a prolonged dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and multiple court cases. This delay has taken a devastating toll on Tamil Nadu's theatre industry, with trade analysts estimating a staggering loss of over ₹100 crore. As the film's release was expected to coincide with Pongal, a lucrative time for cinema releases in Tamil Nadu, the delay has denied theatre owners, exhibitors, and distributors a significant opportunity to boost their revenue. Trade analyst Ramesh Bala notes that Jana Nayagan's delay has resulted in a substantial loss for the industry, citing the film's potential to rake in ₹150-200 crore in Tamil Nadu alone. In comparison, other recent releases, such as Sivakarthikeyan's Parasakthi, Karthi's Vaa Vaathiyaar, and Jiiva's Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimayil, have fared relatively poorly, with Parasakthi making ₹55 crore in Tamil Nadu. This highlights the immense financial impact of Jana Nayagan's delay, with the Tamil Nadu box office potentially losing nearly ₹100 crore due to the film's postponement. The situation is further complicated by the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Election schedule, which may lead to a further delay in the film's release. As a result, other movies, including Pradeep Ranganathan's Love Insurance Kompany and Suriya's Karuppu, are also facing uncertainty. The declining theatre footfalls, exacerbated by the IPL season, have left the industry on the brink of a crisis. Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay, Mamitha Baiju, Pooja Hegde, and Bobby Deol, is an adaptation of Anil Ravipudi's Bhagavanth Kesari. Despite the uncertainty surrounding its release, fans continue to await the film's arrival, which may still be months away.