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New Delhi: Pongal box office heats up with a twist. As Vijay-starrer Jananayakan battles censor hurdles and uncertain release, Sasikumar's Parasakthi emerges as the frontrunner.
Trade buzz suggests political themes are delaying both films amid Tamil Nadu elections. Will Parasakthi's solo run dominate screens? Experts predict a boost, shrugging off competition from Telugu biggie The Raja Saab. Dive into the suspense shaking Kollywood's festive race.
The Pongal 2026 box office race just got one-sided. With suspense looming over the release of Vijay's Jananayakan, trade analyst Ramesh Bala predicts a major advantage for Sasikumar's Parasakthi. "After a lot of struggle, Parasakthi has finally got a UA certificate at the 11th hour, although they have secured quite a few screens, but with uncertainty over the release of Jananayakan, it will work as an advantage for Parasakthi," Bala told TV9 English.
Both films carry strong political overtones, drawing extra scrutiny from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Bala explained the context: Parasakthi draws from the 1964 anti-Hindi agitation that propelled DMK to power in 1967. "Both films will help political parties, hence the censor hurdles," he added. "With elections round the corner in April, these things are very sensitive—Parasakthi will give free mileage to DMK and Jananayakan will help Vijay's party."
Jananayakan delays hand Parasakthi a clear solo release edge. Trade expert Raj Sekar noted, "Technically, had there been a competition, Jana Nayakan would have had an upper hand. Now, Parasakthi will be the first preference for the audience. So, it will definitely get a boost in the Pongal season."
Sekar dismissed concerns over Prabhas' The Raja Saab, calling it no real threat. "The Raja Saab is primarily a Telugu film, so it doesn't have a great hold in Tamil. Although the Tamil version is releasing here, it doesn't have a great opening, unlike Salaar, Baahubali or Kalki. The assets released by the makers haven't evoked that much enthusiasm in the Tamil audience. So, Parasakthi will predominantly occupy most screens here."
He clarified Parasakthi's smooth path: "For Parasakthi, there wasn't much of an issue. Technically, whatever they have asked is based on the evidential proofs that the director has to submit, which have been submitted, and the film has been cleared. The film went to the revising committee, which is a normal procedure."
In contrast, Sekar suspects politics in Jananayakan's woes: "In the case of Jana Nayagan, people are saying that some kind of political motive will be there to not give the certificate and delay the release... They went to court. The CBFC went for an appeal. This is not the usual procedure we see for any film. So, there I see some political motive."
As Tamil audiences gear up for Pongal festivities, Parasakthi looks poised to cash in on the vacuum, potentially dominating multiplexes across Tamil Nadu.
