Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan, is expected to make a record-breaking start at the box office, with trade analysts predicting an opening-day collection of around Rs 100 crore worldwide.

If the prediction proves accurate, the film could surpass the opening-day collections of blockbuster films such as Jailer, The Greatest of All Time (GOAT), and Pathaan, making it one of the biggest openings in Indian cinema.

Directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, Jana Nayagan was Vijay’s final film before his full-time entry into politics. The movie also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, and Gautham Vasudev Menon in key roles. The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on July 23, 2026.

Advance bookings for Jana Nayagan have shown an overwhelming response in India and overseas. Trade reports indicate that the film has sold more than 6.45 lakh tickets in advance, generating over Rs 16 crore in pre-sales across India. Industry analysts note that the advance booking figure is still lower than those of Vijay’s earlier blockbuster releases, Leo and The Greatest of All Time (GOAT).

The excitements surrounding Jana Nayagan is driven not only by Vijay’s popularity but also by the emotional significance of it being his last film. Fans have been booking first-day-first-show tickets in large numbers, especially in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Trade experts believe that if positive audience reviews and word-of-mouth follow the release, Jana Nayagan could become one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of the year.

As of now, the film is gearing up for its July 23 release, with distributors and exhibitors expecting packed theatres across the country. Whether Jana Nayagan crosses the Rs 100 crore mark on its opening day and breaks the records of Jailer and GOAT, and Pathaan will become clear once box-office figures are released after its premiere.

FIFA’s decision to introduce a halftime show during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final has sparked mixed reactions among football fans around the world. While the announcement of stars Shakira, Justin Bieber, Madonna, and BTS generated excitement, many supporters questioned whether a concert-style performance belongs in football’s biggest event.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, concluded with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in the small hours of Monday. For the first time in the tournament’s history, FIFA held an entertainment show during halftime, similar to the Super Bowl tradition in the United States.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the halftime show was intended to make the World Cup final a larger global entertainment event and attract a wider audience. The performance featured internationally recognized artists, including Shakira, known for her iconic World Cup songs Waka Waka and La La La, former boy wonder Justin Bieber along with pop legend Madonna and South Korean music group BTS. FIFA said the event will celebrate football, music, and culture on one stage.

However, the announcement has divided fans and football experts. Many welcomed the idea, saying it would make the final more entertaining and help attract younger audiences. They said the presence of world-famous artists will increase the tournament’s global appeal and create an unforgettable experience for spectators.

Others, including seminal punk rock band The Cure frontman Robert Smith, strongly criticized the decision, arguing that football traditions should not be changed. Critics fear that extending the halftime break for a concert could affect players’ physical rhythm, preparation, and match intensity. Some fans also said the focus should remain on the sport rather than celebrity performances.

FIFA assured that the performance was carefully planned to avoid disrupting the match while maintaining high production standards. Security, stage setup, and broadcast arrangements were also coordinated to ensure a smooth event.

As of now, the halftime show remains one of the most talked-about aspects of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final apart from the boorish behavior of the Argentine squad.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final was marked by an unforgettable celebration as football, music and entertainment came together on one stage at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ahead of Spain’s victory over Argentina, fans witnessed a grand closing ceremony followed by the tournament’s first-ever official Halftime Show, featuring internationally renowned artists and football legends.

The event showcased performances, cultural celebrations and visual spectacles that reflected the global appeal of the FIFA World Cup.

Star-studded closing ceremony opens the final

The festivities began before kick-off with streamer IShowSpeed performing his World Cup song Champions. Opera tenor Christopher Macchio followed with a rendition of America the Beautiful, while Post Malone and Swae Lee energized the crowd with their hit Sunflower.

Academy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson performed the United States national anthem before FIFA Music Ambassador Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini took the stage to perform the official FIFA anthem Desire.

Former World Cup-winning captains Andres Iniesta and Mario Kempes later carried the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy onto the pitch before actor Tom Cruise concluded the ceremony with a message highlighting football’s ability to unite people across the world.

National anthems and legendary introductions

Before the final got underway, Spain’s national anthem was performed by trombonist Indalecio “Inda” Bonet alongside Spanish Brass, while Argentine singer Maria Becerra delivered her country’s national anthem.

Adding to the excitement, renowned announcers Bruce Buffer and Michael Buffer introduced the teams in front of a packed stadium.

First-ever FIFA World Cup Halftime Show makes history

After a scoreless first half, the FIFA World Cup introduced its inaugural official Halftime Show, marking a new chapter in the tournament’s history.

Madonna opened the performance with her hit Music, joined on stage by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

The entertainment continued with The Muppets performing Seven Nation Army, followed by BTS performing Dynamite.

Actor Jason Sudeikis appeared in character as Ted Lasso before Justin Bieber performed a special version of Everything Hallelujah with football-themed lyrics.

Shakira and Burna Boy returned to perform the official FIFA World Cup 2026 song Dai Dai, having also featured during the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City.

Grand finale celebrates unity through music and football

The Halftime Show concluded with an ensemble performance featuring the PS22 Chorus, a live band, The Muppets, Sesame Street characters and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who curated the historic production. Together they performed the original song We Dance before a fireworks display brought the celebrations to a memorable close.

The ceremony highlighted football’s global reach by combining sport, music and culture, creating one of the most elaborate entertainment spectacles in FIFA World Cup history.