The trailer of actor Vijay’s upcoming film Jana Nayagan has sparked widespread online backlash after viewers noticed what appeared to be a Google Gemini AI watermark in one of its scenes.
The trailer, released on Saturday evening, presents Vijay in the role of a police officer on a mission of vengeance. However, a brief moment early in the video—showing a character cocking a shotgun—was followed by a fleeting frame that appeared to display the Google Gemini logo. Screen recordings of the scene were quickly shared across social media platforms, triggering criticism and ridicule.
When HT reviewed the trailer at around 8 am on Sunday, the logo was no longer visible. Despite this, the damage had already been done, with the film and its makers facing intense scrutiny online.
Several users described the apparent use of AI-generated visuals as “unacceptable,” especially for a film reportedly made on a ₹400-crore budget. Many called the oversight an insult to filmmaking craftsmanship and questioned how such an error passed quality checks.
“This is unacceptable. AI doesn’t belong in mainstream cinema like this,” one user wrote. Another commented, “₹400 crore budget, and this kind of mistake?” Others expressed disappointment, noting that Jana Nayagan is expected to be Vijay’s final film before his full-time political entry.
While there has been no official clarification from the filmmakers regarding the watermark, the incident has reignited debate around the use of artificial intelligence in cinema, particularly in high-profile commercial projects.
About Jana Nayagan
Jana Nayagan is scheduled to release in theatres on January 9, 2026, ahead of the Pongal and Makar Sankranti festivities. The film is directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions.
The cast includes Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, and Narain, among others. Music for the film has been composed by Anirudh Ravichander, with lyrics by Arivu.
The project gained added significance after Vijay launched his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in 2025 and announced plans to contest the 2026 elections. Jana Nayagan has been positioned as his final cinematic outing before transitioning fully into politics.
