SerpApi.Org
Despite the massive buzz surrounding Jana Nayagan, Vijay's swansong is currently trailing the advance booking figures of his previous two releases, Leo and The Greatest of All Time (GOAT), with two days still to go before its theatrical release on July 23.
Despite the strong momentum, Jana Nayagan is yet to match the advance booking figures of Vijay's previous two films. The Greatest of All Time (2024) grossed Rs 29.83 crore in domestic pre-sales before opening to Rs 126.32 crore worldwide, while Leo (2023) had amassed Rs 46.36 crore in Day 1 advance bookings (excluding block seats) and eventually earned Rs 148.5 crore globally on its opening day.
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the H Vinoth directorial has grossed over Rs 15 crore in domestic Day 1 advance bookings, including blocked seats. While the numbers are among the biggest of the year, they remain behind Vijay's previous outings.
Trade analysts, however, remain optimistic that Jana Nayagan will narrow the gap over the next two days as full-fledged bookings continue to open across centres. The film is still expected to mount one of the biggest openings of Vijay's career, buoyed by the curiosity surrounding his final film and his first theatrical release after becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Interestingly, the slower pace compared to Leo and GOAT comes despite Jana Nayagan shrugging off a major setback. The film was leaked online in high definition months ahead of its release, yet the piracy controversy appears to have done little to dent audience interest.
Tamil Nadu remains the film's biggest market with Rs 6.74 crore in advance bookings, followed by Karnataka with Rs 4.88 crore and Kerala with Rs 1.80 crore, underlining the strong demand across the southern states ahead of release.
The encouraging pre-sales come even after the film became one of the biggest victims of piracy in recent years. A high-definition version of Jana Nayagan surfaced online well before its theatrical release, raising concerns within the industry over its potential impact on the box office. However, the advance booking trend suggests the leak has done little to deter Vijay's fan base from watching the film in theatres.
Addressing the controversy recently, director H Vinoth urged audiences to experience Jana Nayagan on the big screen rather than through pirated versions. Calling it more than just a commercial entertainer, the filmmaker said the film explores sensitive political issues that deserve to be experienced in theatres and discussed by audiences.
Jana Nayagan stars Vijay alongside Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani, Narain and Nassar. Featuring music by Anirudh Ravichander, the political action drama is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on July 23.
