Kollywood
OFFICIAL: Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan Postponed; Over ₹100 Crore in Advance Bookings Wiped Out? Big Advantage for Prabhas's The Raja Saab
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global film industry, KVN Productions has officially announced the postponement of Thalapathy Vijay's final cinematic outing, Jana Nayagan. Originally scheduled for a grand worldwide release on January 9, the film has been pushed forward due to unavoidable circumstances beyond control. The production house expressed a heavy heart, stating that the decision was not an easy one given the immense anticipation surrounding what is meant to be the swan song of Vijay's legendary career. pic.twitter.com/dRCsoOrnDp— KVN Productions (@KvnProductions) January 7, 2026 The financial implications of this eleventh-hour delay are staggering. According to trade reports , nearly ₹40 crore in overseas opening day advance bookings and close to ₹60 crore for the opening weekend have been wiped out instantly. This combined ₹100 crore loss in global pre-sales represents a massive blow to overseas exhibitors and distributors who had locked in prime shows and a record-breaking wide rollout. Domestically, the impact is equally painful, with Karnataka Talkies reporting that theatres have been informed to refund tickets worth nearly ₹6 crore in Karnataka alone. This level of hard-earned demand is rare in Indian cinema, and industry analysts are calling it a costly miss for KVN Productions that may be difficult to replicate when a new date is finally announced. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The postponement of Jana Nayagan has created a sudden vacuum at the box office, resulting in a big advantage for Prabhas's The Raja Saab. With the departure of the Tamil titan from the January 9th slot, The Raja Saab is now set to secure a significantly higher screen count across all territories. In a major strategic shift, the Tamil version of The Raja Saab, which was initially scheduled for release on January 10th, can now be advanced to January 9th to capitalize on the open holiday window. This reshuffling of the box office deck ensures that Prabhas's horror-comedy and other releases like Parasakthi will now secure better prime-time showtimes and expanded screen space in key markets that were previously dominated by Vijay's film. Despite the commercial shifts, the postponement has seen a rare display of fan solidarity. Prabhas fans (@HailPrabhas007) have voiced their support for Thalapathy Vijay's followers, noting that a postponement just a day or two before release is a painful experience, especially for a career-ending film with lakhs of tickets already sold. While exhibitors go back to square one to replan their schedules, the trade remains hopeful that when Jana Nayagan finally hits the big screen, it will return with the same ferocity to break all-time records. Until then, all eyes are on the Rebel Star as The Raja Saab prepares to dominate the now-vacant Sankranti/Pongal frame. The official release date for Jana Nayagan is currently being reassessed following the postponement announcement. A major factor influencing the new schedule is the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections. Since the film marks the final project of a lead actor entering the political arena, the timing is critical. A mid-April release, which would normally be a preferred holiday slot, is considered logistically unfeasible as it coincides with the peak of the electoral cycle.Alternatively, some trade analysts are discussing a potential Republic Day (January 26th) slot if the unavoidable circumstances are resolved quickly, though this would mean a direct clash with Sunny Deol's Border 2. As of now, while these windows are being heavily debated the official confirmation remains pending from the production house.
