The countdown has begun for Vijay's final film Jana Nayagan that hits theatres on Friday (January 9). The official trailer dropped on January 3 to mixed feedback but the emotional factor around his 'farewell film' has ensured a terrific start to advance bookings across the globe. While the main market Tamil Nadu is yet to open bookings (except very few theatres), other major markets have started advance bookings already.
As per current estimates, the advance booking figures for the opening day has crossed Rs 34 crore and the film well on track to breach Rs 100 crore on release day. It will become Vijay's third successive film to have a triple-digit opening on the opening day. The Greatest of All Time (Rs 127 crore) and Leo (Rs 148 crore) both took sensational starts at the box office. So far, Jana Nayagan has collected Rs 8.40 crore in India and $2.90 million overseas through pre-sales.
Depending on the screen count and show allocation in Tamil Nadu, Jana Nayagan is looking at an opening day between Vijay's last two films. Leo's figure is unlikely to be broken as that project had unprecedented hype from all quarters. Jana Nayagan also has the remake factor as a hindrance. Leo was also a remake but not of an Indian film and it was more of an adaptation.
There is also confusion about the censoring of Jana Nayagan and the trade in Tamil Nadu is currently facing complications regarding the percentage sharing deal between exhibitors and distributors. Vijay films generally have seen exorbitant sharing percentages that are in overwhelming favour of distributors and this time, the theatre owners aren't relenting due to logical reasons.
For example, a ticket priced at Rs 190 would see only Rs 37 as earning to the theatre owner according to the 75-25 sharing ratio, as is being demanded by the distributors of Jana Nayagan. Negotiations are still on and clarity is expected soon.
