Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Inside Vijay’s Jana Nayagan’s 120-Day, Destructive Democracy Town Set
Jana Nayagan used one very large film set for most of its shooting.
The set was called Democracy Town and was built at Pepsi Film City.
Different parts of the same place were changed to look like Madurai, Chennai, North India and other locations.
Some sets were blown up or burned for action scenes.
When a shot was not approved, the crew had to build replacement vehicles and repair damaged walls.
One entire set was destroyed by fire and rebuilt as a Madurai market.
The crew also changed the same road for two songs so it looked like different places.
This kind of filmmaking gives directors more control, but it costs a lot of money.
Jana Nayagan was filmed mostly on the Democracy Town set at Pepsi Film City.
The production shot approximately 95% of the film on one site over 120 days.
The set recreated locations including Madurai, Chennai, North India, offices, courts and a forest.
Art director V Selvakumar said sets were repeatedly rebuilt after explosions, fires and scene changes.
Only three days of exterior filming took place in Kodaikanal, while Vijay was present for 84 shooting days.
- Who
- Director H Vinoth, art director V Selvakumar and actor Vijay were involved in the production.
- What
- Jana Nayagan was filmed largely on a massive, repeatedly rebuilt set called Democracy Town.
- When
- The film was shot over approximately 120 days; Vijay was present for 84 of those days.
- Where
- Most filming took place at Pepsi Film City, with three exterior-shooting days in Kodaikanal.
- Why
- The large set allowed the filmmakers to control and redress multiple environments, although H Vinoth said such production is expensive.
Live-Location Filming
Purpose-Built Sets
Atmosphere and realism
Live-Location Filming
H Vinoth said shooting on real roads with people around provides a distinct vibe that many audiences and filmmakers want.
Purpose-Built Sets
Sets provide greater control over the environment and allow the same location to be transformed into different settings.
Cost and practicality
Live-Location Filming
Live locations can avoid the prohibitive cost of constructing a large set, though major shoots may attract very large crowds; H Vinoth cited 15,000 to 25,000 people appearing during Kabali filming.
Purpose-Built Sets
H Vinoth said set-based shooting can cost several crores and is generally affordable only for major stars and large productions.
Production risks
Live-Location Filming
Live shoots can be difficult to control because real people and public surroundings affect filming.
Purpose-Built Sets
Sets avoid many location-control problems, but they require extensive rebuilding when explosions, fires or repeated takes destroy them.
- Film
- Jana Nayagan
- Director
- H Vinoth
- Lead actor
- Vijay
- Main set
- Democracy Town at Pepsi Film City
- Shooting duration
- Approximately 120 days
- Set-based filming
- Approximately 95% of the film
- Exterior filming
- Three days in Kodaikanal
- Vijay’s presence
- 84 shooting days