Actor Vijay's much-awaited farewell film Jana Nayagan witnessed a significant drop in box office earnings on its second day after a strong opening, but its worldwide collection crossed Rs 112 crore, according to trade estimates.
The H Vinoth directorial earned Rs 21.15 crore net in India on Friday, taking its two-day domestic collection to Rs 63.85 crore, trade tracker Sacnilk reported.
The film had opened with Rs 42.70 crore net on Thursday, meaning its Day 2 collection declined by around 50.5 percent compared to the opening day.
Its India gross collection has reached Rs 75 crore, while the worldwide earnings stand at approximately Rs 112.50 crore.
On Friday, Jana Nayagan recorded an overall theatre occupancy of 44.33 percent. The film registered 32.77 percent occupancy during morning shows, 37.23 percent in afternoon shows, 47 percent in evening shows and 60.31 percent during night screenings.
The Tamil version remained the biggest contributor to the film's Day 2 earnings, collecting Rs 17.95 crore. The Hindi version earned Rs 1.85 crore, while the Telugu version added Rs 1.35 crore.
Amid mixed reactions from audiences, director H Vinoth said Vijay's films often receive varied responses immediately after release before gaining wider acceptance over time.
"Whenever a Vijay sir movie comes out, for about a week people say this is good, that isn't good, this doesn't work, that doesn't, and all that. Then after a week, they say it's not that great after all. Six months later, it starts becoming a big hit in society," he said.
Vinoth described the film as an important project for Tamil cinema and a dream opportunity for him as a filmmaker.
Promoted as Vijay's final film before he begins a full-time political career, Jana Nayagan received a grand reception from fans across Tamil Nadu. Large crowds gathered at theatres, including Chennai's Woodlands and Casino, where special celebrations, cultural programmes and laser shows were arranged.
Fans were seen dancing outside cinemas, while theatres witnessed enthusiastic responses during first-day-first-show screenings. Actor Ravi Mohan also joined celebrations marking Vijay's final theatrical release.
Despite the festive atmosphere, the film experienced a steep decline in earnings on its second day.
Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan follows Vetri, played by Vijay, a prisoner who forms a close bond with prison warden Srikanth and takes responsibility for the warden's daughter Viji. As he helps her overcome fears and pursue her dream of joining the Indian Army, his past resurfaces through the character John Himmler, played by Bobby Deol, leading to a major confrontation.
The film features Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Priyamani, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prakash Raj in key roles, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander.
Released in theatres on July 23, Jana Nayagan marks the end of Vijay's more than three-decade acting career, during which he appeared in over 60 films.
Source: NDTV