Jana Nayagan review: Thalapathy Vijay’s final film leaves fans emotional; hailed as a masterpiece despite cringe dialogues

And the wait is over: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan, released in theatres on Thursday (July 23), and it was no less than a festival in Chennai as fans turned the movie’s release into a grand celebration. Social media has also been flooded with first-day reviews from moviegoers who caught the early morning shows.

The film follows Thalapathy Vetri Kondan (Vijay), who befriends a jailer and his daughter, Viji, while in prison. After his release, the jailer dies in an accident, leaving Thalapathy as Viji’s guardian. Years later, Viji (Mamitha Baiju) becomes entangled in a political conspiracy, making her the target of John Himler (Bobby Deol). Whether Thalapathy can protect her and what connects him to John forms the crux of the story.

The initial response has been mixed. A section of netizens praised Vijay’s screen presence, saying his aura and swag are the film’s biggest strengths, while many called the film similar to his other movies and the usual South Indian masala film with over-the-top shots and a predictable storyline. Many even criticised the songs and dialogues, calling them cringe. Some also praised Bobby Deol as the villain.

Meanwhile, producer Venkat K Narayana said the film now belongs to the audience after overcoming several challenges before its release.

A user said, “Apart from a few elevation blocks and Anirudh’s score in places, nothing works here. H. Vinoth’s execution is very sloppy, and the changes he made, especially the subplots, feel completely outdated. Bobby Deol’s villain track is atrocious and laughable at times. VFX and production values are poor, editing is all over the place, the core emotional moments from the original are inserted without any proper flow, and the climax tests your patience to the max.”

Another mentioned, “Thalapathy Vijay delivers a powerful performance with stunning action, a gripping story, and outstanding dialogues. Bobby Deol is terrific. A complete big-screen entertainer!”

Speaking to PTI while watching the first-day-first show at Vettri Theatre in Chromepet, Narayana expressed his happiness over the film’s release and thanked fans for their support. “We have released it on the largest number of screens across the country, and the movie belongs to the people. We look forward to their love and support,” he said.

Music composer Anirudh Ravichander, who watched the film alongside the producer, said the release was a special and unforgettable experience.

“It’s a very surreal and emotional moment for me and the whole team. After all the struggle that the film has been through for the audience to enjoy it, to sit with them and feel that is very special,” he said.

Earlier this month, Vijay officially announced the film’s revised release date through an Instagram post and unveiled a new poster, confirming that Jana Nayagan would release in theatres on July 23.

Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan features an ensemble cast including Mamitha Baiju, Pooja Hegde, Prakash Raj, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani and Narain alongside Vijay.

The film’s music has been composed by Anirudh Ravichander, with cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan, editing by Pradeep E. Ragav, and production design by V. Selvakumar.