Parasakthi actor alleges sabotage by Vijay fans ahead of Jana Nayagan clash: ‘This isn’t competition’

A controversy has erupted in Tamil cinema following the theatrical release of Parasakthi, with actor and producer Dev Ramnath alleging that fans of Vijay are attempting to sabotage the film’s box office performance.

Parasakthi, starring Sivakarthikeyan in the lead role, released in theatres on Saturday after overcoming last-minute censorship hurdles. The film was initially scheduled to clash with Vijay’s much-anticipated film Jana Nayagan, which was billed as the actor’s final cinematic outing. However, Jana Nayagan was postponed just a day before release due to certification issues and is yet to receive a new release date. 

‘Negative reviews and deliberate attempts’

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Dev Ramnath shared screenshots of online reviews and accused certain fan groups of orchestrating a coordinated campaign against Parasakthi.

“Just because we’re releasing alongside your film doesn’t give you the right to sabotage ours. We announced our release date first. Did we try to stop your film? Never,” he wrote.

Ramnath added that his team faced similar censorship challenges and had worked tirelessly to clear them. “I was at the CBFC office every single day, in Chennai and Mumbai. We received our censor certificate less than 18 hours before release,” he said. 

‘This isn’t healthy competition’

The actor further alleged that the tactics used went beyond fair competition.
“Negative reviews, using old videos, influencing people, shouting political slogans in theatres, messing with BookMyShow ratings—this isn’t competition. You did the same to a big film last year,” he claimed.

Calling for restraint, Ramnath said such practices harm the film industry as a whole. “Talking as a cinema lover, this isn’t healthy for any of us,” he added. 

About Parasakthi

Set in 1960s Madras, Parasakthi revolves around two brothers drawn into the anti-Hindi imposition movement in Tamil Nadu. The film explores themes of political resistance, student activism, family bonds, and social justice.

Despite receiving mixed critical reviews, the film’s historical context and performances by its ensemble cast—including Dev Ramnath, Prithvi Rajan, Guru Somasundaram, Basil Joseph, and Papri Ghosh—have resonated with sections of the audience.

With Jana Nayagan postponed indefinitely, Parasakthi currently enjoys a relatively clear run during the festive window, though the debate around fan culture and online influence continues to spark discussion across the Tamil film industry.