Vijay's Jana Nayagan Has The 'Soul' Of Bhagavanth Kesari: Anil Ravipudi Addresses Speculations On Film's Remake

Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, his final film before his full fledged political entry is currently facing legal and censorship hurdles, resulting in a delay in its theatrical release upseting fans. The film has also been in the spotlight due to long-standing speculation that it is a remake of the Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and directed by Anil Ravipudi. Addressing the reports, Ravipudi recently stated that while Jana Nayagan retains the “soul” of his original film, it is not a carbon copy. Speaking to Telugu news website, he clarified that director H. Vinoth has made several changes, giving the film its own distinct treatment. Ahead of the release of Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, director Anil Ravipudi was asked about

the comparisons between Bhagavanth Kesari and Vijay’s Jana Nayagan and it news of the remake was true.

Anil Ravipudi Opens Up On Jana Nayagan's Remake

Responding to the speculation, he said, “The team has retained the basic soul of Bhagavanth Kesari while remaking the film for Vijay. Portions like the first 20 minutes, the interval, and a few sequences in the second half are similar. However, the villain’s track and his objectives have been completely reworked, with the inclusion of sci-fi elements such as robots.” The filmmaker further expressed hope in the film’s prospects, stating that many elements from Bhagavanth Kesari would work well for Thalapathy. “No matter what anyone says or does, I strongly believe the soul of my film is present in Jana Nayagan, and with an icon like Vijay in the lead, it will do well,” he added.

Addressing social media criticism that pointed out several similarities in the trailer, Anil Ravipudi explained, “When you remake a film to recreate its high points, this approach is there. That’s how remakes have been made for years, more over it’s about adapting a film into another language. The team may not have publicly announced it as a remake for certain reasons, may be fear from social media backlash. While it’s challenging to keep it under wraps, the subject remains fresh for Tamil audiences. Not everyone in Tamil Nadu has watched Bhagavanth Kesari.”

Meanwhile, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, starring by Chiranjeevi, has released in theatres on January 12. In contrast, Jana Nayagan has been postponed from its original January 9 release date due to certification issues with the censor board. Since then, several prominent voices from the film industry—including Kamal Haasan, Pa. Ranjith, Silambarasan, Ravi Mohan, Jiiva, and Karthik Subbaraj—have extended support to Vijay and the film’s team, calling for reforms in CBFC for delaying the certification.