Vijay’s much-awaited Tamil film Jana Nayagan is released in theatres after months of delays and certification hurdles, with reports indicating it is tied to a CBFC recensoring process. Multiple outlets report that the Central Board of Film Certification clearance process was resolved, including the addition of about 41 seconds of footage, increasing the runtime to over three hours. While the official worldwide release date was not consistently stated across reports, several sources point to a July 23 or July 24 theatrical release window, including an overseas distributor announcement.

The release is marked by fan celebrations across Tamil Nadu, including crowds dancing outside theatres for the first-day-first-show. However, there are also operational issues: morning shows in Pondicherry were cancelled after ticket allocation problems among fan groups, and the film’s release history also includes mentions of an earlier internet leak and postponements. A special screening was held in Chennai, attended by Vijay and Secretariat staff, with tight security at the venue.

Meanwhile, actress Anandhi Ajay posted an emotional video after learning that her scenes were removed from the final film cut, saying she had waited about a year for the chance to work with Vijay. The box-office response is reported as strong by trade trackers despite the prior release turbulence.