Explained: The Political Turn in the Parasakthi-Jana Nayagan Pongal Face-Off

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The routine Pongal box office clash between Vijay’s Parasakthi and Sivakarthikeyan’s Jana Nayagan has escalated into a TVK vs DMK political narrative. It highlights the deepening overlap between Tamil cinema and politics.

Vijay’s Jana Nayagan vs Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi: A Political Faceoff?

Jana Nayagan, Vijay’s final film, will release on January 9. Parasakthi, starring rising star Sivakarthikeyan, will release on January 10. 

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Historically, the top stars in Tamil cinema have always been political figures, even if they have not been active politicians. 

Jana Nayagan is a supposed remake of the Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari. It presents Vijay as a righteous man who will fight for the common man. It is the perfect send-off for him before he leaves the cinema to take the reins of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party.

Parasakthi is a remake of the 1952 blockbuster starring the legendary Sivaji Ganesan. It focuses on an issue close to the ruling DMK's heart: the language struggle. The original Parasakthi was written by the late DMK president M. Karunanidhi.

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The remake has ties to the party as well, as it is distributed by Red Giant Movies, owned by Udhayanidhi, Deputy Chief Minister and son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin.

Sivakarthikeyan, who plays the lead role in Parasakthi, has been spotted on the DMK stages on many occasions. 

Real Story of Parasakthi

In 1937, C Rajagopalachari's Madras Presidency government attempted to make Hindi compulsory in schools, which triggered massive protests. This decision witnessed a massive pushback, which saw leaders Priyar EV Ramasamy and CN Annadurai, the founder of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), staging protests. 

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It resulted in the arrest of more than 1,000 people. Since then, anti-Hindi protests and pushback have always been a part of DMK's ideology.

Words from Trade Analyst

Trade analyst Ramesh Bala observed, "Of course, there is politics attached to both films. In Tamil Nadu, Jana Nayagan has the upper hand given Vijay's bigger stardom. But Parasakthi has generated considerable buzz as well. Industry chatter suggests Parasakthi's release date was advanced following political tensions, though this remains unconfirmed."

He added that Jana Nayagan might face negative propaganda from political opponents. "Vijay's fans and TVK members will re-watch Jana Nayagan multiple times. However, if the film has to perform to its full potential, it must impress general audiences as well. Similarly, if director Sudha Kongara, who helmed Suriya's Soorarai Pottru, has made Parasakthi compelling, it has all the ability to become a massive hit."

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Bala also pointed out that Parasakthi, backed by Red Giant Movies, will demand significant theatre allocation. "We don't know if single screens will run both films. But multiplexes will give a 55-45 percent split to Jana Nayagan and Parasakthi," he explained.

Final Thoughts

The delay in Jana Nayagan getting its CBFC certification has fuelled speculation that the clash has turned fully political. Just two days before its release, Jana Nayagan has not been cleared for exhibition by the CBFC, prompting the makers to move Madras High Court.

In 2024, The Greatest of All Time, Vijay, passed the baton to Sivakarthikeyan at the climax, saying, "Hold the gun, Siva. Thousands of lives on the ground depend on you." The scene triggered fan theories about whether Vijay was anointing Sivakarthikeyan as his successor.

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The Pongal window historically accommodates multiple big releases, but the compressed timeline means both films will compete fiercely for screens.