Records & Rumors: Padayappa Rules While Vijay Faces ‘Copycat’ Trolls Over Jailer Look & Bhagavanth Kesari Script
The Tamil film industry is currently witnessing a perfect storm of nostalgia and controversy. On one side, Superstar Rajinikanth is enjoying a glorious victory lap as his 1999 classic Padayappa destroys box office records. On the other, Actor Vijay has found himself in the center of a brutal social media roasting, with netizens accusing him of “double plagiarism”—stealing Rajinikanth’s visual style and Telugu star Balakrishna’s story.
The Unbeatable Superstar: Padayappa Creates History
Twenty-five years after its initial release, Padayappa has proven that the “Rajini Brand” is timeless. According to official posters from Arunachala Cine Creations, the film has been declared the “Highest Collected Re-release in Tamil Cinema History,” celebrating a “Historic 10th Day” with packed houses.
The re-release, timed to honor “50 Years of Superstar,” has turned theaters into concert arenas. Trade analysts confirm that the film is a “Record Breaking Blockbuster Worldwide,” outperforming many new releases. The tagline on the posters, “The OG Ruling Since 1975,” seems indisputable as fans flock to see Rajinikanth in his prime.
Viral Debate: Jana Nayagan vs. Jailer
While Rajini fans celebrate, a fierce online war has erupted over a leaked or promotional still of Actor Vijay from his upcoming film, reportedly titled “Jana Nayagan”.
In the viral image, Vijay is seen standing atop a Jeep, clad in a simple, dull-grey shirt and formal trousers, sporting sunglasses and a rugged beard. Almost immediately, sharp-eyed netizens drew a parallel to Rajinikanth’s recent blockbuster, Jailer. They pointed out that Vijay’s styling is virtually identical to the character Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth’s character in Jailer), specifically the scene where the Superstar wears a humble, dusty shirt and pants while commanding a mass presence.
“Inspiration or Plagiarism?”
Collages placing Vijay’s Jana Nayagan still next to Rajinikanth’s Jailer still have flooded platform X (formerly Twitter). The accusations are harsh, with fans claiming Vijay is trying to replicate the “silent but deadly” aura that Rajinikanth mastered in Jailer.
“I was thinking where I had seen this before… same shirt, pant, pose… even the inner wear is Rajini’s!” read one viral tweet in Tamil, mocking the similarity.
The trolling has been relentless. Comments like “Tharkuri copy star” and “Comedy Star” are trending, with users joking that while Vijay can copy the clothes, he cannot copy the original “swag” of the Jailer star.
The Rumor Mill: Is Jana Nayagan a Remake of Bhagavanth Kesari?
Adding massive fuel to the fire is a strong industry rumor that “Jana Nayagan” is not an original script but a remake of the 2023 Telugu hit “Bhagavanth Kesari,” starring Nandamuri Balakrishna.
Bhagavanth Kesari, directed by Anil Ravipudi, featured Balakrishna as an older, rugged guardian training a young girl (played by Sreeleela) to join the army. The film was a massive success, noted for Balakrishna’s “age-appropriate” mass avatar.
Critics and trolls are now connecting the dots:
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The Look: Vijay’s grey-haired, rugged look in the Jana Nayagan poster mirrors the older, protective figure Balakrishna played.
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The Story: Rumors suggest Vijay will play a similar father-figure role, protecting a young woman—allegedly played by Mamitha Baiju or Sreeleela herself (who starred in the original).
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The Director: With H. Vinoth directing, fans are debating if he has adapted the Telugu script to suit Vijay’s political entry image.
The “Double Copy” Accusation
This has led to a “double attack” on social media. Rival fans are mocking Vijay for allegedly needing Rajinikanth’s visual aesthetic (from Jailer) and Balakrishna’s script (from Bhagavanth Kesari) to deliver a hit.
“First the look is copied from Jailer. Now the story is copied from Balayya. Is there anything original in Jana Nayagan?” asked one netizen.
The Verdict
While Padayappa continues its dream run, proving Rajinikanth’s dominance remains unchallenged, the pressure is mounting on Vijay. The “Jana Nayagan” team has yet to officially confirm if the film is a remake or an original story. However, in the court of public opinion, the verdict is currently harsh: Rajinikanth is the trendsetter, and everyone else is just following in his footsteps.