Ideas are bulletproof. Cinema is an idea charged with the power of a thousand dreams. And, if the recent past few months are proof of anything, one film star can change the lives of millions and alter reality as we see it.After months-long troubles in the release due to controversies surrounding the issuance of a censor certificate, a legal battle, and a piracy attack, Jana Nayaganhas finally arrived in theatres. The film bids adieu to one of Tamil cinema’s most beloved stars, actor-turned-politician ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay, as the star himself announced during his election campaign. Within a few minutes of his introduction, Vijay lifts a fallen elder with a copy of the Constitution of India, and this sets the tone for the film.Filled with meta-political references, hat-tips to MGR, and fan service, filmmaker H Vinoth’s Jana Nayagan, a remake of Nandamuri Balakrishna’s 2023 film Bhagavanth Kesari, celebrates the masala cinema that boosted Vijay as the hero of the masses. Stepping into the theatre, it becomes evident what Vijay might have seen in the template of Bhagavanth Kesari: a father-and-daughter arc that speaks of women empowerment, hidden identity and family sentiment. With suitable action pay-offs and a strong political core, this has been designed to be the story of a saviour of democracy.