“We Want This Vijay”: Final Film Trailer Sparks Debate over Star’s Political Turn

The trailer of Jai Nayagan, the film that marks South Indian superstar Vijay Thalapathy’s farewell to acting, has been released and is drawing widespread attention online.

The two-minute-plus trailer shows Vijay as a man who takes responsibility for raising a young girl, hoping she will one day join the Indian Army. The story hints at a larger political struggle, with a conspiracy unfolding against his character. Actor Bobby Deol appears to play a key role in the conflict.

The film is directed by H. Vinoth, who is working with Vijay for the first time. Ahead of the release, Vinoth told audiences, “This is a Thalapathy film. Watch at least one show. You’ll get your answers.”

Since its release, the trailer has gone viral on social media. While many praised Vijay’s screen presence, others expressed disappointment over his decision to leave cinema for politics. Comments ranged from “We want this Vijay” to “Why leave the field where you dominate?”

Jai Nayagan, a political action drama, has already set records in advance ticket sales ahead of its release. Vijay has confirmed that once the film is out, he will fully shift his focus to politics. Vijay announced his retirement from cinema last December during the film’s song launch event at Malaysia’s National Stadium Bukit Jalil. Addressing fans, he said, “I am incomplete without my fans. They fill theaters to watch my films. I want to work for them for the next 33 years—as a politician. This is how I will repay my debt to them.”

In 2024, Vijay founded his political party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), and announced plans to contest elections in Tamil Nadu. However, he faced heavy criticism last year after a deadly stampede at one of his political rallies left 39 people dead. The film also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, and Priyamani.

Jai Nayagan is set to release on Friday.