‘Jana Nayagan’ director on working with Thalapathy Vijay for his final film: 'He is a complete star actor'

Vijay starrer 'Jana Nayagan' is tangled in a legal web, with the film still awaiting its release. Today, January 27, all eyes will turn to the Madras High Court that will pronounce the verdict on the case.

‘Jana Nayagan’, which marks Vijay’s swansong, before he fully transitions to politics, has emerged as one of the highly anticipated films of 2026, and despite the delays in its release, is proving to be worth the wait for the actor's fans. H Vinoth, the director of ‘Jana Nayagan’ himself, was in awe watching Thalapathy Vijay perform. In fact, the director earlier revealed that filming the actor on set was like watching 84 Vijay films.




‘Jana Nayagan’ director reveals he was in awe of Vijay’s performance

Vijay’s final film ‘Jana Nayagan’ was shot over a 100-day schedule, during which Vijay was on set for 84 days. In an interview with Cinema Vikatan, director H Vinoth expressed his admiration for his leading man, saying, "It was like watching 84 Vijay films.”

The ‘Jana Nayagan’ director also added that Vijay himself is a skilled filmmaker. “He is a complete star actor. Beyond that, he is a true director,” H Vinoth said.

Thalapathy Vijay’s knowledge of cinema extends beyond acting, “He knows more than a director should know about lighting, lenses, and shot sequencing," H Vinoth said and went on to add, "Along with the joy of working with a mass hero, I also have the satisfaction of working with someone who understands every aspect of direction. That’s why I say that every day we shot with him felt like watching a new film."

H Vinoth on how he ended up directing Vijay’s final film

Working with Vijay is every filmmaker’s dream, and helming what is said to be his final film, is even more special. H Vinoth came to know about Vijay’s plans to make one last film during a conversation with one of his friends. “They told me they were looking for a story for Vijay sir’s last film. I immediately called Vijay sir’s manager, Jagadish, and asked if they were indeed seeking a script. He said yes,” H Vinoth recalled.

Soon enough, they met and the director shared, "I then met Vijay sir, narrated the story, and Jana Nayagan took shape. He liked the story very much."

Starring Vijay, ‘Jana Nayagan’, also has Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Narain, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and Mamitha Baiju in pivotal roles. The film was initially announced to release on January 9, however, it was postponed due to a censorship row. The Madras High Court will pronounce its verdict on a writ appeal filed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) challenging a single judge's order on Tuesday.

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