Cine News Digest – 11 Jan 2026 (includes latest on release of Vijay’s “Jana Nayagan”

Tourist Family in the running for an Oscar

Abishan Jeevinth made his directorial debut at the age of 25 with the critically lauded film Tourist Family. This film is now one of four Indian films – and the only Tamil film – to be in contention for an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

The film is currently on a long list and, if selected, will then be officially nominated before the jury decides on the winner.

Tourist Family deals with a family that fled Sri Lanka in search of a better life in India. The initial hurdles and the level of attrition attained forms the spine of this emotion-filled comedy entertainer that stars M Sasikumar, Simran, Bhagavthi Perumal, M.S. Bhaskar, Ramesh Thilak, Mithun Jai Shankar, Elango Kumaravel, Yogi Babu and Kamalesh Jagan. The film has music by Sean Roldan.

Abishan Jeevinth, who made a cameo in this film, is set to make his debut as a lead actor in the forthcoming film With Love directed by Madhan and co-produced by Soundarya Rajinikanth.

Release date for Vijay’s Jana Nayagan remains unclear

In a bizarre turn of events, the court order by Justice P.T. Asha directing the CBFC to immediately grant a certificate to release Jana Nayagan was reversed by the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.

KVN Productions, the producers of Jana Nayagan, have now filed papers in the Supreme Court to have matter heard tomorrow (Monday, 12 January 2026) instead of the scheduled date of 20 January.

In response, the Chief Justice has stated that the producers claim for urgency is ill-founded as a release date of the film should not have been announced with obtaining certification from the CBFC

K.Bhagyaraj to return as director

Veteran writer, director, actor, producer and music composer K. Bhagyaraj, is set to make his return as a director after a gap of 15 years.

Bhagyaraj, who made his screen debut in Bharathiraja’s Kamalhaasan-Sri Devi-Rajinikanth starrer, Pathinaaru Vayathinley later made his debut as a lead actor opposite Rati Agnihotri in Puthiya Vaarpgal, directed by his Guru, Bharathiraja.

He subsequently made his debut as a director through the 1979 film, Suvarillaatha Chithiringal. His popularity grew rapidly and many of his films were remade into Hindi. Among many others, he directed Sivaji Ganesan, Amitabh Bachchan, Sri Devi and his own Guru, Bharathiraja. He also introduced to the screen, among many others, R. Parthiban, R. Pandiyarajan and Kovai Saralla.

Bhagyaraj is set to return as a feature film director and will also direct a web series.

The announcement was made at a grand function to mark his 72^nd birthday and his golden jubilee year in Tamil cinema.

SJ Surya injured and hospitalised

S.J.Surya had a serious accident on the sets of Killer, the film that marks his return as a director.

S.J.Surya, who has always performed his own stunts, was injured during the filming of a stunt sequence when he lost his grip on a rope and fell on steel rods, severely injuring both legs.

He was immediately rushed to hospital where the many cuts were stitched. Doctors have advised strict rest for 15 days.

Vaadi Vaasal to be resurrected?

With Suriya’s renewed focus on the Tamil film industry, producer Kalaipuli S Thanu has approached Suriya and director Vettrimaaran to resurrect the stalled project titled Vaadi Vaasal. The project was shelved after Suriya’s sudden decision to drop the project.

Suriya has not yet confirmed his acceptance.