Pongal 2026 was supposed to see the box-office clash of two big movies lead by actors Sivakarthikeyan and Vijay. However due to the last minute censor tumult caused by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India, only Sivakarthikeyan starrer Parasakthi managed to release as scheduled on January 10, 2026 (Saturday).

Currently, Vijay starrer Jana Nayagan, which is also the actor's last film before his debut in politics, remains indefinitely postponed, as it fights a legal tussle with the CBFC at the Madras High Court. Hence the tensions between fans of Vijay and Sivakarthikeyan are at an all time high, much more so given that Parasakthi was distributed under Red Giant Movies, a banner owned by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, whom Vijay's TVK party considers a political opponent. 

Parasakthi is also based on the 1965 anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu, and DMK founder CN Annadurai was a pivotal political figure around this time. All of these has lead to fans of actor Vijay, and his Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam political party indulging in smear campaigns against Parasakthi (2026) film, and anyone praising it in online and offline spaces. 

Parasakthi is a production venture of Dawn Pictures, and film's creative producer Dev Ramnath has now called out the targetted smear campaign against their movie by team Vijay (literal and metaphorical). In an X Post dated January 11, 2026 (Sunday), the Parasakthi producer accused Vijay and his fans of habitual sabotage, and lamented that Parasakthi faced as much censor problems with the CBFC as Jana Nayagan, and only obtained a censor certificate 18 hours before the film's release. 

"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. I was at the CBFC office every single day, in chennai and Mumbai, to overcome hurdles. We were dealing with our censor issues just the way your team was. We got ours less than 18 hours before the release.

 

Negative reviews, using old videos, influencing people, shouting political slogans in theatres, messing with BMS ratings. This isn’t competition. You did the same to a big film last year. Talking as a cinema lover, this isn't healthy for any of us. #Parasakthi is about a student movement that we tamil should pride about. We will fight this, just the way our students did." (sic)

 

Parasakthi producer's calling out of the online smear campaign against the film, comes at the time when supporters of actor Vijay are already facing heat from others for doing the same. 

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.

I was at the CBFC office every single day, in chennai and Mumbai, to overcome hurdles. We were dealing with… pic.twitter.com/UdaHfW3JQL

— Dev Ramnath (@DevRamnath) January 11, 2026

This is a really shameful act when people are spending money to take movies and spreading hatred against a movie and instigating others to not see movies from competitor heros is pathetic. Cinema should be in the hands of directors and not the heros. Many films had this impact.

— prabhuram 4 (@prabhuram888) January 12, 2026

If you haven’t watched the film, don’t comment irresponsibly, especially when your privilege exists because of this very history. The anti-Hindi movement led by Anna was resistance to linguistic imposition and a fight for federal equality and cultural dignity. F U T(bloody)VK

— Aletheia (@limon_Chelloo) January 10, 2026

😹கஷ்டகாலம். 😖 https://t.co/a4en467HzU

— இம்சை_சேபி_ نواز _ ഛേപി (@PREMNAVAASHC) January 11, 2026

Aana Ithunga maari oru kevalamana jenmanhalae paakave mudiathu pola. Ithunga kitaleam online, offlinenu ela edathulayum thaliae irukanum. Self-centered narcissistic bunch. AVPL 🙏

— அகை 🌻 (@nightingale97_) January 10, 2026

Anils in general

— Van Boch (@Underbaer27) January 10, 2026

Vijay tensed about CBI and JN court case

Meaning anils with parasakthi disaster tag 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/yzYAs4j9Of

— Baasha Coolie (@baasha_coolie) January 11, 2026

#Parasakthi nalla Iruku nu sonnadhuku Rajpriyan family varaikum abuse pannirukaanuga Vijay fans. 🫡

pic.twitter.com/87tj9cE7xs

— Trollywood 𝕏 (@TrollywoodX) January 11, 2026

Empty theatre doesn't make the movie bad, ott era has changed many things now, update yourself mr @psmith2

— Arvind kumar (@IamRwindd) January 11, 2026

Ideally, anyone who supports TVK should also take pride in Parasakthi. The film articulates some of the most fundamental principles of Dravidian ideology.
However, instead of engaging with its ideological significance, TVK, its leadership, and sections of its followers are… pic.twitter.com/YvOnLqfNC8

— Prabha (@GMSunshiney) January 10, 2026

இது எவ்வளவோ பரவாயில்லை. படம் பார்க்காமலேயே அந்த பணத்தை பற்றி தவறான விமர்சனம் செய்தவர்கள், திரைப்படம் வெளியாவதற்கு முதல் நாள் திரையரங்கிற்கு சென்று கூட்டமே இல்லை என்று ஏளனம் செய்தவர்கள் என்று இவர்கள் மேல் நிறைய சரித்திரங்கள் உண்டு.

— Ashik MM Aboobacker (@abooashik) January 11, 2026