The MGR-Vijay parallel: ‘Jana Nayagan’ revives a rare moment in Tamil Nadu history

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When MGR became Chief Minister, ‘Meenava Nanban’ followed. Now, history repeats with Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’, releasing on July 23

Updated - July 20, 2026 04:20 pm IST

MGR in ‘Meenava Nanban’; Vijay in ‘Jana Nayagan’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Tamil Nadu has seen this only once before. And it is set to repeat.

In a coincidence that connects C Joseph Vijay and MG Ramachandran – both popular actors before becoming Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu – a film release follows their big political moment. Actor Vijay’s Jana Nayagan hits screens on July 23, barely months after he took over as Chief Minister. Nearly five decades ago, , something similar occurred: barely months after he took charge as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MG Ramachandran’s Meenava Nanban hit screens.

Leading newspapers of the time captured the pre-release buzz of Meenava Nanban, with film posters only carrying the title ‘Makkal Thilagam’ and not ‘Chief Minister’.

T Rajappa Venkatachari – popularly known as ‘MGR Swami’ – remembers the excitement in 1977 when this particular MGR film hit screens. In his thirties then, Rajappa vividly recalls watching the film’s first-day-first-show at Tirunelveli’s Central Theatre.

MGR in ‘Meenava Nanban’; (right) T Rajappa Venkatachari, a fan from Tirunelveli who watched the first day first show of the film | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

“It was madness,” he says, “There was great excitement among fans. Normally, during new Tamil film releases, policemen would wield the lathi in order to maintain law and order outside the cinema hall... but the scene was different for Meenava Nanban as MGR had become the Chief Minister. Policemen treated us [fans of MGR] with respect. They did wield lathis, but tapped the ground instead of targetting us.... and requested orderliness.”

Directed by Sridhar, Meenava Naban, also starring Latha and VK Ramasamy, revolves around how Kumaran (played by MGR) fights for the cause of fishermen.

Rajappa reminisces that for the first day shows and subsequent weekend screenings, watching the film along with hundreds of MGR fans were hordes of fishermen from the neighbouring villages. This was a time when Tirunelveli included areas in Thoothukudi and Tiruchendur, much before it was bifurcated into different districts. “Fishermen from the coastal villages of Thoothukudi would hire lorries to transport them to the main cinema hall in Tirunelveli, and watch the film. They were thrilled that MGR was championing the cause of fishermen through this picture,” adds Rajappa, who is currently based in Alwarthirunagari, famous for being part of the ‘Nava Tirupathi’ temples.

If Meenava Nanban marked MGR’s immediate return to the big screen after taking over as Chief Minister, his Madhuraiyai Meeta Sundharapandiyan arrived in January 1978. Widely regarded as his final screen appearance as an actor, this film had a troubled production, as it was stalled post the death of its filmmaker, BR Panthulu. It was MGR himself who took on directorial duties to complete this particular project.

Despite taking over as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MGR had close links with the film industry and in fact, expressed his desire to re-enter the industry. On April 14, 1978, barely 10 months into his tenure as Chief Minister, he kickstarted a new production starring himself. Reporting on that project, The Hindu quoted him as saying that some people were bent on preventing him from entering the film world again. “I am resuming acting not merely to fulfil my obligations to those in the industry but to carry on through this medium my mission of propagating high and socially relevant ideals, especially those of my mentor, ‘Anna’. I have a lot to tell the public about the problems of the farming community and my ideas of solving them,” MGR reportedly told scribes then, adding, “Acting will not hit work.”

Later, in a report carried in The Hindu on August 30, 1979, MGR is quoted as saying, “I will not leave the cine field. I cannot say whether I will act again. But I will produce and direct films.” However, a lack of time and attention to public work meant that MGR could not fully fulfil his wishes.

Vijay in ‘Jana Nayagan’, directed by H Vinoth | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Cut to the present day, and Tamil cinema fans are awaiting the release of Jana Nayagan, starring Chief Minister Vijay. Set to hit screens on July 23, the release will finally end the months-long drama surrounding its fare, which the Central Board of Film Certification halted in January.