AI in the Spotlight: Vijay’s Final Film ‘Jana Nayagan’ Sparks Controversy Over Google Gemini Watermark

RMN Stars Report Highlights:

🎭 Superstar Vijay is set to make his final acting appearance in Jana Nayagan before retiring to focus on his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

⚠️ Fans recently discovered a Google Gemini AI watermark at the 0.23-second mark of the film’s trailer, sparking criticism regarding filmmaking standards and technical oversight.

🗓️ The highly anticipated political action thriller is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on January 9, 2026, just ahead of the Pongal festival.

🤖 The film’s production highlights the shift toward “Cinema 4.0,” where AI tools are increasingly integrated into the creative and collaborative process of modern filmmaking.

RMN Stars Technology Desk
New Delhi | January 4, 2026

The cinematic world is bracing for the January 9, 2026, theatrical release of Jana Nayagan, a high-octane political action thriller that marks a major turning point in Indian cinema. Directed by H Vinoth, the film is touted as the final acting appearance of superstar Vijay, who plans to retire from his 51-year career to focus entirely on his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. However, the film’s highly anticipated trailer has recently come under fire for the alleged use of generative AI tools.

The AI Logo Controversy

While the trailer garnered millions of views across Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi versions within hours of its release, social media users quickly identified a jarring detail. Netizens on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out that the makers appears to have used Google’s Gemini video editing software without removing its watermark from the bottom-right corner. The oversight is reportedly visible at the 0.23-second mark of the trailer during a montage sequence featuring Vijay loading a shotgun.

The reaction from fans has been a mix of shock and disappointment. Some viewers described the use of AI for such simple shots as “alarming,” arguing that it raises doubts about current filmmaking standards and suggests a lack of professional editing. One critic even suggested that the production should have hired human editors to at least blur the logo rather than “exploiting fans” with AI-generated visuals.

[ Also Read: Beyond Search Boxes: How Google Is Quietly Building Your Future AI Team ]

Cinema 4.0: The AI Revolution

The controversy arrives at a time when the film industry is grappling with “Cinema 4.0,” a shift where AI is increasingly integrated into the creative process. While the idea of AI replacing directors and writers is a common myth, the reality is a more collaborative use of AI tools that can be both nuanced and efficient. Other contemporary projects are already leaning into this “AI-first” approach; for instance, the project Robojit and the Sand Planet utilizes an “Automated Franchise Model“ to bypass traditional production delays known as “development hell”.

A Star-Studded Farewell

Despite the trailer’s technical scrutiny, Jana Nayagan remains one of the most anticipated releases of the Pongal festival season. The film features a massive ensemble cast, including:

• Pooja Hegde
• Bobby Deol
• Mamitha Baiju
• Prakash Raj
• Gautham Vasudev Menon

The film’s buildup included a massive audio launch in Malaysia on December 28, where Vijay delivered an emotional speech urging his supporters to back his political journey. As the superstar prepares for his final bow, the discussion surrounding Jana Nayagan highlights the growing tension between traditional filmmaking craftsmanship and the inevitable rise of AI in modern entertainment.

The use of AI in this context is much like a master painter using a digital brush for the first time; while the artistry of the subject remains, leaving the software’s logo on the corner of the canvas reminds the audience that the hand of the creator is now sharing space with a machine.