Vijay Breaks Silence on Jana Nayagan Censor Row and Stampede Haunting Him
Vijay Breaks Silence on Jana Nayagan Censor Row and Stampede Haunting Him
Thalapathy Vijay opens up about politics, his Shah Rukh Khan admiration, and the Jana Nayagan censor saga as the Karur stampede memory haunts him.
Vijay’s Jana Nayagan is at the center of a censoring storm as the film’s fate moves through the courts. The Madras High Court recently set aside a single-judge order directing the CBFC to grant a censor certificate, while a CBFC caveat has been filed in the Supreme Court, keeping the Rs 500 crore project in limbo.
During a candid chat with a senior journalist about his shift from cinema to politics, the star revealed he began seriously thinking about life after Covid, influenced by his father S A Chandrasekhar, who directed many political films. He expressed admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, noting Khan’s articulation and eloquence as qualities he respects. He also asserted that he would win the election and not just play a kingmaker. He spoke emotionally about the Karur stampede at TVK’s rally, where 39 people died, saying the incident weighed on him. He acknowledged he has consciously given up stardom after 33 years but is now focused on his political career, admitting that it was not easy but that he is determined to win and not settle for being a number two.
Friends and reporters noted Vijay’s confidence, with crowds at his rallies reinforcing his belief that he will prevail. The interview highlighted the ongoing debate around Jana Nayagan’s content and the legal wrangle involving the CBFC and the Madras High Court, underscoring how the film’s fate sits at the heart of Tamil cinema’s intersection with politics.
The film’s supporters and critics alike warn that the censorship row could delay a high-stakes project and shape the political narrative around the actor-turned-politician, who has signaled a long-term plan to influence public life even as the industry and judiciary navigate the clearance process.
