Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan has found itself at the center of fresh controversy in Karnataka after multiple screenings in Bengaluru were reportedly cancelled following protests linked to the Cauvery water-sharing dispute. The action drama, which marks Vijay’s final film before fully entering politics, has been enjoying a strong run at the box office, but its theatrical journey has now been interrupted in parts of the state. As tensions escalated outside several cinemas, some exhibitors reportedly pulled scheduled shows and replaced them with Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The incident comes only days after similar protests affected the film’s screenings in Mandya. While the controversy has generated widespread discussion on social media, Jana Nayagan continues to attract audiences elsewhere and remains one of the biggest Tamil releases of the year.
Bengaluru Theatres Replace Vijay’s Film With Spider-Man
According to reports, members of pro-Kannada organisations gathered outside Poornima and Urvashi theatres in Bengaluru on Friday to oppose the screening of a Tamil-language film during the ongoing Cauvery water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The demonstrations reportedly prompted theatre owners to cancel scheduled shows of Jana Nayagan at the two venues, with a few other single-screen cinemas also halting screenings as a precaution.
Following the cancellations, several theatres reportedly replaced the vacant slots with Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland. As the protests continued, promotional cut-outs, banners and posters featuring Vijay were also removed from theatre premises. Videos showing demonstrators tearing down promotional material quickly spread across social media, drawing mixed reactions from fans and moviegoers.
This is the second time the film has faced disruptions in Karnataka since its release. Earlier in the week, screenings at Gurushree Theatre in Mandya were also cancelled after protests connected to the same interstate water dispute. The repeated interruptions have added another challenge to the film’s theatrical run in the state.
Box Office Momentum Continues Despite the Controversy
Even with the disruptions, Jana Nayagan continues to perform well commercially. According to trade estimates from Sacnilk, the film collected around ₹3.55 crore net in India on its ninth day, registering a drop from the ₹4.05 crore earned the previous day. The film reportedly played across 4,165 shows nationwide on Friday, reflecting its wide theatrical presence despite localized cancellations.
After nine days in cinemas, the film’s India net collection stands at ₹157.10 crore, while its India gross has reached ₹183.45 crore. Overseas, the action drama earned another ₹2 crore gross on Day 9, taking its international total to ₹85 crore. As a result, the film’s worldwide gross has climbed to approximately ₹268.45 crore, reinforcing its status as one of the biggest Tamil releases of the year.
Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan follows Thalapathy Vetri Kondan, a former prisoner determined to transform Vijji into an Army officer while taking on a dangerous national security threat orchestrated by the ruthless John Himler. Alongside Vijay, the film features Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol and Gautham Vasudev Menon in key roles.
The film has drawn additional attention because it is widely expected to be Vijay’s final acting project before dedicating himself to his political career as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister. That milestone has made Jana Nayagan an emotional theatrical event for many of his fans, helping drive strong ticket sales despite the latest controversy.
While the protests have temporarily affected screenings in parts of Karnataka, the film’s overall box office performance suggests audience interest remains strong. Whether the cancelled shows resume in the coming days will likely depend on how the situation unfolds, but for now, Jana Nayagan continues its successful run in cinemas across most markets.
