CHENNAI: Nearly five decades after Tamil Nadu audiences last watched a sitting chief minister lead a film, the state is set to witness the rare spectacle again on Thursday when chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s Jana Nayagan releases in more than 1,000 screens in the state. This is the first such release since M G Ramachandran’s Meenava Nanban hit theatres after he became chief minister in 1977.Jana Nayagan, originally slated for release in January this year, ran into a controversy after the CBFC withheld certification. The film then became embroiled in legal battles, leading to further delays. It is now releasing barely two months after Vijay assumed office, mirroring the timeline of Meenava Nanban, which released around two months after MGR took over as chief minister in 1977. Another MGR film, Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan, which he directed and starred in, was released about six months after he assumed office.Political observer ‘Tharasu’ Shyam said both MGR films had been initiated well before his swearing-in, but the shooting and release were delayed because of a turbulent political calendar, including the withdrawal of the Emergency, parliamentary elections and the assembly polls.“By mid-March 1977, the Emergency was withdrawn and MGR shifted his complete focus to the parliamentary campaign, which AIADMK swept. He then immediately prepared for the assembly elections in June. Film shootings took a backseat and the releases were delayed,” Shyam said, adding that both films had eventually received a relatively muted response.According to Shyam, MGR had already extracted the political dividend from cinema long before becoming chief minister. “From 1973 onwards, MGR’s films had already translated into political success. During the release of Ulagam Sutrum Valiban, AIADMK won the Dindigul Lok Sabha byelection. The party later formed the govt in Puducherry in 1974 and went on to win the 1977 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. By the time he became chief minister, cinema had already served its political purpose, and he no longer depended on it. His MGR Mandram fan clubs had largely transformed into active political units. People still watched his films, but they did not evoke the same frenzy as they had before he assumed office,” he said.According to Shyam, Vijay now faces a similar test. “Whether audiences will continue to embrace the image of a hero fighting injustice after he has become the chief minister remains to be seen. MGR had already evolved into a larger public figure between 1973 and 1977. It will be interesting to see how audiences respond to Vijay’s on-screen persona now that he has assumed office,” he said.Besides MGR, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N T Ramarao also had a couple of films released after becoming chief minister in 1983. Maduravoyal TVK MLA Rhevanth Charan, managing director of Rohini Theatres, said the theatre had been decked up by fans who have now become party cadre.“The CM’s anti-corruption ideology will reflect among people. The words and thoughts expressed by the CM as an actor have always resonated with the public, and this movie will resonate as well,” he said. “It’s an emotional day for many fans and supporters. It is also a feat for a chief minister’s film, with him as the protagonist, releasing after 50 years.”Theatre Owners Association member ‘Thiruppur’ Subramanian said advance bookings have remained strong. “All theatres have reported strong booking responses till Sunday. We are expecting a good turnout. So far, there has been no hassle reported by theatres,” he said.
