Malaysia hosted Indian star Vijay’s last cinematic event at Bukit Jalil, drawing 85,000 fans and boosting tourism.
KUALA LUMPUR: What was originally planned for Dubai eventually became one of Malaysia’s biggest entertainment spectacles last year, when Bukit Jalil here was chosen to host popular Indian actor-turned-politician Vijay’s final cinematic celebration before he fully embarks on his political journey.
The Thalapathy Thiruvizha: Jana Nayagan audio launch for Vijay’s 69th film, held at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Dec 27, evolved far beyond a movie promotional event into a grand showcase of Malaysia’s hospitality, event management expertise and rising appeal as a cine-tourism destination.
The event has since been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as one of the world’s largest audio launch events, drawing about 85,000 fans.
Founder of Malik Streams Group of Companies, Datuk Abdul Malik Dasthigeer, said Malaysia secured the prestigious event after he personally requested that the audio launch be moved from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur.
“The event was originally supposed to happen in Dubai, but I personally requested for it to be organised in Malaysia. Vijay sir agreed, and that became a proud moment not just for us, but for Malaysia,” he told Bernama, reflecting on his journey in bringing the 51-year-old superstar to Malaysian shores.
For fans, the occasion carried deep emotional significance as it marked what many viewed as one of Vijay’s final major public appearances in his iconic hero persona before fully transitioning into politics.
“It was truly a privilege to make it happen for all the Vijay fans in Malaysia. Watching him live on stage, dancing, singing and speaking as a hero, knowing it could possibly be one of his final appearances in that role, became a once in a lifetime memory for everyone who witnessed it,” he said.
Abdul Malik said hosting the mega event gave Malaysia a rare opportunity to showcase its hospitality, professionalism and capability in delivering a world-class international entertainment production, despite the immense logistical challenge.
He said nearly 4,000 personnel were involved in planning and executing the event, with crowd control, security, transportation and hospitality requiring extensive coordination due to Vijay’s immense popularity and massive fan following.
The event attracted fans not only from Malaysia, but also from neighbouring countries and other parts of the world, creating a ripple effect across tourism related sectors including hotels, airlines, food and beverage outlets, transportation services and local businesses.
“Many travelled here solely for the opportunity to see him live, which is a very rare experience. Their arrival naturally boosted multiple sectors linked to tourism and hospitality,” he said.
Abdul Malik said the event’s impact extended far beyond Bukit Jalil, with its digital exposure significantly elevating Malaysia’s visibility among global Tamil cinema audiences.
Footage from Bukit Jalil, including FPV drone visuals featured in the Jana Nayagan ‘Raavana Mavandaa’ song video, has surpassed 41 million views, while event clips, fan generated content and media coverage collectively amassed hundreds of millions of views globally.
Abdul Malik, who was also instrumental in bringing superstar Rajinikanth to Malaysia for the filming of Kabali about a decade ago, said such large scale productions demonstrate the country’s appeal as a destination for international film and entertainment projects, describing the Bukit Jalil event as one of Malaysia’s most significant cine tourism moments in recent years.
Having interacted personally with Vijay, Abdul Malik said the actor’s rise in Tamil Nadu politics came as no surprise, describing him as calm, grounded and naturally influential.
He said Malaysia has always held a special place in Vijay’s global fan journey, particularly due to the unwavering support of the Malaysian Tamil community, adding that Malik Streams, as the Malaysian distributor for Jana Nayagan, is preparing yet another memorable celebration for fans when the film is released.
Over the past decade, Malik Streams has organised 11 major concerts featuring artistes from Tamil Nadu and distributed more than 100 Indian films in Malaysia, underscoring the company’s strong footprint in the Indian entertainment industry.
Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10 after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest force in the recently concluded and intensely contested state election.
