90% Sold Out in 120 Minutes! The Historic ‘Jana Nayagan’ Craze Sweeping Chennai Theaters

Everyone is acting like they’ve never seen a superstar release before, but let’s be real: we have never seen anything quite like this. Is it just “fan madness,” or are we witnessing the literal coronation of a political era through the lens of a projector?

if you are in Chennai trying to book a ticket for February 20, I have some very stressful news for you.

The Two-Hour Terror: Chennai Theaters Turn Red

The sun had barely started heating up the Marina Beach this morning when the “Book” button finally went live across major platforms for Jana Nayagan. Within exactly two hours—yes, 120 minutes of frantic clicking and server crashes—reports started flooding in that over 90% of tickets for the February 20 release are officially “Sold Out” across Chennai’s prime screens.

From the iconic Sathyam Cinemas to the massive screens at Rohini Silver Screens, the seating layouts look like a sea of red.

This isn’t just a movie release; it’s a logistical nightmare for theater owners who are already scrambling to add extra early-morning shows. We’re talking 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM—heck, maybe even midnight screenings—just to keep up with the Thalapathy Vijay fever that has gripped the state.

Jana Nayagan image 1 90% Sold Out in 120 Minutes! The Historic ‘Jana Nayagan’ Craze Sweeping Chennai Theaters

Why the Craze? It’s the “Final Goodbye”

If you’ve been living under a rock, let me catch you up: Jana Nayagan is not just another action flick. It is widely reported to be Vijay’s 69th and final film appearance before he fully dives into the shark-infested waters of Tamil Nadu politics. Fans aren’t just buying a ticket to see an H. Vinoth-directed political thriller; they are buying a piece of history.

The film, which features a powerhouse cast including Bobby Deol as the antagonist, Pooja Hegde, and Mamitha Baiju, has been the talk of the town since its inception. With Anirudh Ravichander handling the BGM, the hype was already at an 11/10.

According to early reports by The Times of India, the advance booking numbers are already pacing to shatter the records set by Leo and The Greatest of All Time.

The Censor Row and the February 20 “War”

It hasn’t been a smooth ride for the producers, KVN Productions. The film faced a massive censor row that almost derailed the January release plan, with the Madras High Court and even the Supreme Court getting involved over specific scenes. But as they say, “the harder the struggle, the sweeter the victory.” The delay has only served to build a pressure cooker of anticipation.

As per reports from Pinkvilla, theater owners in Chennai are expecting a record-breaking opening day collection that could potentially touch the ₹100 crore mark globally if this momentum holds.

Industry experts suggest that the “child abuse” theme—a crucial plot point that reportedly moved Vijay to take up this project—is adding a layer of social relevance that goes beyond the usual “masala” elements.

Look, I’m going to be blunt: this is absolute insanity, but it’s the good kind. From a business perspective, Jana Nayagan is the perfect storm. You have a massive ₹300–500 crore budget, the most popular star in the region doing his “retirement” lap, and a director known for gritty, realistic action. It’s a guaranteed blockbuster.

However, the real test will be if the content matches the hype. We’ve seen big openers fizzle out by Monday, but with the political undertones of this film, it feels like it will stay relevant long after the credits roll. It’s a win for the industry, but a major loss for my sleep schedule because I’ll be at that 4 AM show!

Original Source: First reported on the ground by The Times of India and Pinkvilla through industry tracking data.

Question For You: Did you manage to grab a ticket, or are you stuck staring at a “Sold Out” screen? Tell me your booking horror stories in the comments!