Though Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) came to power with 106 seats in the Assembly elections, actor-turned-politician Vijay looks to make Tamil Nadu history again.
Although the speed at which government formation is discussed has changed rapidly today, Vijay is set almost as early as now to be confirmed as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Vijay's film Jana Nayagan, which will be his last one before going into the world of politics head-on, attracted criticism as a result of this fresh and unique kind of political move.
There are now so many buzzwords about the film among the people of Tamil Nadu, as well as within Tamil cinema and beyond, since it is alleged to be filled with deep political themes and closely tied to Vijay’s ideological vision. So now that the actor is likely to become Chief Minister, there has been plenty of speculation for some time that this film will be released by the filmmakers, and perhaps not before his swearing-in.
The film had previously stirred controversy before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections to get released ahead of the election. But several logistical and political reasons have been said to have delayed the movie. At the time, the film never even had a chance to hit a theatre.
TVK, being an industry insider, post the elections, has become a big political factor in itself, which works much better for the films when the timing is right. The film would thus become a watershed moment that's never before been captured on film, that is also based on the Indian past, analysts say, saying its release on Vijay’s formal rise to Chief Minister would make Jana Nayagan a historic moment in cinematic history.
Had the plan been carried out, Vijay would be one of the only film stars in the country whose film occurs when he’s also the chief officer of a state government. It will generate the kind of excitement that the movie festival and political rallies had never before experienced, and one that should be a source of anticipation like never before.
The film will be produced by KVN Productions, a Kannada-based production house that has achieved box office success in recent years. According to reports, the production company is not just looking forward to the potential of the movie for commercial success but also to the sheer political weight attached to the film itself.
As per industry sources, “Jana Nayagan” blends themes regarding Vijay’s politics, governance vision and social aspiration. It has additionally sparked interest in the film’s content, in particular after TVK’s stellar electoral showing. Meanwhile, there are discussions about a potential release date.
The perfect release date for the film might be June 4. Interestingly enough, Toxic, the other KVN Productions project, is also expected to be released at about that same time and is said to have been delayed for several reasons. Industry observers believe “Jana Nayagan” could do as much and pop out to the theatres when Vijay does his swearing-in.
That timing, according to trade analysts, could lead to record-breaking box office collections in Tamil Nadu and overseas markets where Vijay has a massive following. And so far, fans have been celebrating some of TVK’s electoral success across Twitter and Facebook with all of their joy for what the future has to offer.
"Jana Nayagan", at the general level of being a film, some of its emotional power might be felt, it appears. As Tamil Nadu is waiting for its leader to come to power in a more formal capacity, there is fanfare for Vijay’s hope of a political future and an emotional goodbye at the box office. Now this film is one of the most anticipated Indian movie releases of recent memory.
