Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Apr 11: The leak controversy surrounding Thalapathy Vijay’s upcoming film Jana Nayagan has escalated, with Tamil cinema icons Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan strongly condemning the incident and calling it a serious setback for the film industry.

Superstar Rajinikanth took to social media platform X expressing shock and deep concern over the alleged leak. He urged film industry associations to raise their voices against such acts and called on authorities to identify those responsible and ensure strict punishment, stating that such crimes must not be allowed to continue.

Veteran actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan also reacted strongly, describing the incident as a “systemic failure.” He said delays in the film certification process contribute to an environment where piracy can thrive. Calling piracy an attack on both art and artists, he stressed that it threatens the work and investment of everyone involved in the industry. He also appealed to audiences to support cinema by watching films legally in theatres.

The controversy has drawn widespread attention across the Tamil film industry, with several celebrities including Suriya, Vijay Deverakonda, and Chiranjeevi expressing support for the makers of Jana Nayagan and condemning the unauthorized circulation of content.

Production house KVN Productions, which is backing the film, issued a statement on X confirming that portions of the movie—and in some cases nearly the entire film—had been illegally leaked and circulated online. The banner termed it a serious case of “digital piracy” and warned users against sharing or viewing the content.

The producers further stated that even accessing or forwarding leaked material is a punishable offence, adding that all digital activity is traceable and strict legal action is being pursued against those responsible.

Authorities and industry stakeholders are now being urged to strengthen anti-piracy mechanisms to prevent further breaches and protect the interests of filmmakers.