Chennai: Early reactions to Vijay’s much-awaited film ‘Jana Nayagan’ have started pouring in on social media, with several viewers sharing brutally negative reviews.
While the film’s scale and Vijay’s star power had generated significant buzz, some viewers have described the H Vinoth directorial as “garbage” and claimed that even Vijay’s aura and Anirudh Ravichander’s music could not save it.
After facing multiple delays, a prolonged legal battle, tussles with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and even a leak, ‘Jana Nayagan’ hit theatres on July 23.
Sharing his review after watching the first-day-first-show screening, one viewer wrote, “I have no words for how garbage Jana Nayagan was. Good lord man. Vijay and Anirudh carried tf outta that movie. STRAIGHT A**.”
I have no words for how garbage Jana Nayagan was. Good lord man
Vijay and Anirudh carried tf outta that movie.
STRAIGHT ASS
— Abishek Ramani (@shektheshrek) July 23, 2026
Criticising the director, another viewer tweeted, “H Vinodh Couldn’t Make a Single Good Frame for Vijay’s Last Film. He Simply Just Turned Kesari Into Tamil Film Without Any Engaging Factor. INTERVAL PORTION With Ravana Mavan Da Was Only Good Factor & Ani Can Only Lift The Film.”
#JanaNayagan FIRST HALF – P*nda First Half 🙏🏼😭
H Vinodh Couldn’t Make a Single Good Frame for Vijay’s Last Film. He Simply Just Turned Kesari Into Tamil Film Without Any Engaging Factor.
INTERVAL PORTION With Ravana Mavan Da Was Only Good Factor & Ani Can Only Lift The Film pic.twitter.com/A9H0KXwh3p
— Abin Babu 🦇 (@AbinBabu2255) July 23, 2026
‘Jana Nayagan’ is said to draw inspiration from the Telugu film ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’. However, several fans have criticised the film, claiming that it fails to match the original and is a weaker adaptation.
Calling the film mediocre, one reviewer wrote, “The interval block is solid and the main highlight so far. Apart from that and a few template elevation scenes, the execution has been sloppy. Bobby Deol’s villain track is absurd, the VFX is poor, and the core daughter emotion feels half baked. Vijay and Anirudh are holding this one together so far.”
However, some viewers felt that the film lived up to its promise as a quintessential mass entertainer.
Calling it the “best farewell to Thalapathy Vijay”, one viewer wrote, “#JanaNayagan is a Surreal Experience. Emotional connect is biggest strength of the film, especially @actorvijay & Mamitha Baiju portions. @anirudhofficial Background Score & Songs, GOOSEBUMPS !!!”
#JanaNayagan First Half – BLOCKBUSTER Stuff! 🔥🔥🔥
Goosebumps From Start To Finish! 💥
The First 20 Minutes Are Pure #ThalapathyVijay Celebration With Title Card…. Theatre Erupting for Every Scene and Song #ThalapathyKathcheri. ❤️
Screenplay is Smart With Excellent… pic.twitter.com/TRYfwUwEPk
— Troll Cinema ( TC ) (@Troll_Cinema) July 23, 2026
Praising the film’s screenplay and action sequences, another viewer wrote, “Screenplay is Smart With Excellent Connecting Scenes, Powerful Elevation Moments, and a Well-Written Inspector Role That Links Perfectly With the Villain. @_mamithabaiju Shares Emotional and Heartwarming Scenes With #ThalapathyVijay That Connect Beautifully With the Audience.”