Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan marks his final outing in cinema before dedicating himself full-time to politics. Directed by H. Vinoth, the film stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, and Mamitha Baiju in pivotal roles. Produced on a massive scale by Venkat K. Narayana under the prestigious KVN Productions banner, the highly anticipated film is set for a worldwide release on July 23. Ahead of the release, the producer interacted with the media and shared some insights about the film. Here’s the transcript.
You faced a few hurdles regarding the film’s release. Did you anticipate them?
We did expect some challenges. Vijay sir had even warned us about them beforehand. However, we only anticipated hurdles related to the theatrical release. What we eventually went through was far beyond our expectations. We never imagined facing so many issues at the same time, including release delays, piracy, and court cases. On the brighter side, the film is releasing after Vijay sir became the Chief Minister, which has further increased the excitement among fans.
You have achieved great success in business. What inspired you to enter the film industry?
I have loved movies since childhood. Cinema teaches us many things that books cannot. Songs, lyrics, and stories leave a lasting impact on our lives. In Peddi, there’s a dialogue: “Why live such a long life if you’re going to live it the same way?” I absolutely loved that line. Powerful ideas like these can be effectively conveyed to society through cinema. Entering the film industry was always on my bucket list.
How did your journey with Thalapathy Vijay begin?
This is my first Tamil film. I already knew Vijay sir’s manager, and we had discussions during the time of Leo. I came to know that Vijay sir was planning one more film after GOAT. Since I have always admired his work, I conveyed my interest through his manager. The project was finalized in just one meeting.
Whose idea was it to take Bhagavanth Kesari as an inspiration for Jana Nayagan?
Vijay sir really liked Bhagavanth Kesari, and so did I. We only took inspiration from two scenes and built the rest of the story in a completely different world. We also discussed it with Anil Ravipudi. We intended to present a fresh story to the audience. We were completely honest while cutting the trailer and never tried to hide the fact that two scenes were inspired by Bhagavanth Kesari. While the trailer may create a certain impression, the film unfolds in a completely new world with a fresh conflict. Apart from the basic thread of a young girl joining the Army, everything else is entirely original. If audiences watch the film with an open mind, they will experience a fresh and emotionally powerful story.
You faced several challenges with the censor certification. What is your reaction to the entire process?
The film carries a strong message about empowering the girl child and bringing about positive social change. Bhagavanth Kesari even won a National Award. It was disappointing that our film was initially awarded a U/A certificate but was later changed to an A certificate. Since this is a film meant to inspire young audiences, we hoped families could watch it together so the message would reach more people. However, we respect the Censor Board’s decision, which was taken from its perspective.
Jana Nayagan was delayed significantly. What challenges did you face as a producer?
When a film of this scale misses its planned release date, the challenges for a producer multiply. The delay impacts not only the producer but the entire ecosystem associated with the film. Despite that, we believe that when the destination is great, the journey is bound to be difficult. Great victories never come easy, and God places the crown only after the battle.