Fatwa issued against Thalapathy Vijay sparks controversy ahead of 'Jana Nayagan' release

Actor-politician Thalapathy Vijay finds himself at the center of a religious storm after a fatwa was issued against him by Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilly, the Chief Mufti of Chashme Darul Ifta and president of the All India Muslim Jamaat. The cleric, based in Uttar Pradesh, accused Vijay of anti-Islamic behavior, alleging that the actor has consistently portrayed the Muslim community in a negative light, particularly in films like Beast. The fatwa labels his political outreach to Muslims, including organizing an Iftar event, as opportunistic and insincere.

According to India Today, the fatwa also took issue with Vijay’s recent Iftar gathering, claiming that it included “drunkards and gamblers,” thereby violating the sanctity of Ramadan. Maulana Razvi and the Tamil Nadu Sunnat Jamath both accused the TVK leader of using the event for political mileage rather than religious solidarity. A formal complaint was also lodged by the Sunnat Jamath with the Chennai Police, arguing that Vijay's event was an insult to devout Muslims and Islamic traditions.

Following the fatwa, community leaders have called for Muslims to distance themselves from Vijay, avoid his events, and refrain from inviting him to religious gatherings. The controversy has snowballed, with former TN BJP chief K Annamalai also criticizing Vijay for what he called “hypocritical behavior,” questioning the actor’s sudden religious gestures after years of playing morally ambiguous roles onscreen. The backlash suggests growing resistance to Vijay’s political emergence from multiple ideological fronts.

The timing of the fatwa is significant, as Vijay’s next major political-satirical film 'Jana Nayagan', which is slated to release for Pongal 2026. With the controversy gaining national traction, there are concerns it might affect the film’s promotion or even lead to legal or public protests. Observers worry the situation could escalate, especially if religious groups mobilize opposition to Vijay’s cinematic or political activities. Whether this will impact Jana Nayagan's box-office prospects remains to be seen, but the tension is already palpable.