The delay of Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay, has severely impacted Kerala theatres. K Vijaya Kumar of the United Film Exhibitors Organization of Kerala confirmed the stagnation, citing stalled business and failed Malayalam releases.
The delay in release of the upcoming film Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay, has caused a major decline in theatrical business across Kerala.According to K Vijaya Kumar, president of the United Organization of Film Exhibitors of Kerala, the delay has come at the worst possible time.
He stated in a press conference that the film is expected to revive theaters that were suffering from a slow period. As the Kerala Trends Twitter page reported, “Vijay’s film #JanaNayagan, which was expected to fetch huge collections, was not released. Many highly anticipated Malayalam films ended up being huge flops with poor returns at the box office. This trend is likely to continue till March 19.”Vijaya Kumar explained how serious the strike was. “Thalapathy Vijay’s film was expected to deliver strong collections and pull theaters out of the long slump.
But the sudden delay has seriously affected cinema centers across Kerala.
Theater chains are now looking toward mid-2026
With the postponement confirmed, Kerala’s exhibition sector faces a long hiatus ahead of the next strong line-up.Reports say that April 2026 may bring new releases. But there is uncertainty about whether this list can repair the ongoing damage. Theater owners say the financial pressures are already evident. Many of them had braced themselves for the comeback wave led by Vijay.
Instead, they are now forced to rely on smaller releases with unpredictable results.
Telugu states and Karnataka show a similar situation
Reports suggest similar conditions in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, where expectations for superstar Vijay were equally high.The film was expected to be the biggest release in South India in Q1 2026, and distributors in these regions have made advance investments along with scheduling commitments based on an early release in the year.Now, as the postponement extends longer, they are absorbing notable losses. Many business sources describe the situation as “unpredictable and financially draining.”
June 2026 becomes the target window
Multiple media reports, including those from NT News and Eenadu, suggest that the producers are now eyeing June 2026. The proposed date is June 18, which is close to Vijay’s birthday on June 22.It’s in keeping with the festive weekends, early holiday turnout, and heightened fan activity around the actor’s birthday.Insiders also indicate that internal discussions are ongoing. An official statement has not been issued by the makers yet.Sources say the team is exploring whether this date will provide maximum footfall and marketing advantage.The popular YouTube channel Valai Pechu had earlier reported a major delay. As per their update, Jana Nayagan will not be releasing anytime soon.They claimed that the plan was to release H Vinoth’s film ‘Jana Nayagan’ on Thursday, June 18, 2026.The channel highlighted two strategic advantages. The date falls just before Vijay’s 52nd birthday celebrations. It also aligns with the long weekend of Muharram.
