“Jana Nayagan”, the long-delayed final film of Indian star Vijay, is now set for a worldwide cinema release on 23 July, according to KVN Productions. The announcement matters because the Tamil-language film is being positioned as Vijay’s farewell to acting after he left cinema for politics and became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Its release also resolves months of uncertainty after the original launch was disrupted.

The film had initially been scheduled for 9 January, in the lucrative Makar Sankranti and Pongal holiday period, but was postponed following a dispute with India’s Central Board of Film Certification and a separate piracy breach. Directed by H. Vinoth and produced by Venkat K. Narayana, the title translates as “The People’s Leader”, underlining Vijay’s shift from screen icon to political leader. Vijay retired from acting in 2024 after 69 lead roles, and his previous film, “The Greatest of All Time”, reportedly grossed about $52 million; global distribution for “Jana Nayagan” will be handled by Phars Film.