A pre-release event for Sigma, the directorial debut of Jason Sanjay, son of Tamil superstar-turned-politician and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, was held in Salem on Tuesday evening. The event was attended by the film's cast and crew, including lead actors Sundeep Kishan and Faria Abdullah, but drew particular attention online after Jason was interrupted mid-speech by chants of "TVK" — a reference to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, the political party founded by his father in 2024, which went on to form Tamil Nadu's government following the 2026 assembly elections.

The event notably took place amid ongoing public speculation about a possible rift between Vijay and his son, after the Chief Minister did not attend the promotional event, either alone or alongside Jason's mother, Sangeetha. As Jason took to the stage, he expressed happiness at kicking off promotions for Sigma in Salem, where part of the film was shot, thanking the city for the positive memories associated with the production. He went on to thank the film's cast and crew individually before addressing his family.

It was at this point that the crowd's reaction intensified. As Jason said, "a special thanks to my family," the audience erupted into loud cheers, forcing him to pause his speech. Sundeep Kishan was seen grinning at the reaction, while Faria Abdullah turned to look back at the crowd as the noise grew louder. The chants soon crystallized into a sustained chorus of "TVK, TVK," which continued until Jason acknowledged the crowd with a thumbs-up, appearing to take the moment in stride even as the host attempted to adjust audio levels to be heard over the sustained cheering.

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Sigma marks Jason Sanjay's first outing as a director, following an on-screen debut appearance in the film's promotional single earlier this year. The action-adventure heist comedy, produced by Lyca Productions and shot simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu across locations including Chennai, Salem, the Thalakona forests and parts of Thailand, centers on a "lone wolf" protagonist navigating a high-stakes treasure hunt. The film features music composed by S. Thaman, cinematography by Krishnan Vasant, and a supporting cast that includes Raju Sundaram, Sampath Raj, Shiv Panditt, Anbu Thasan and Yog Japee, alongside leads Sundeep Kishan and Faria Abdullah. The film is currently slated for theatrical release on October 2, 2026.

At the event, Jason also spoke candidly about his journey into filmmaking, offering advice to aspiring directors based on his own experience. "Everyone has a dream of becoming a director... Do a lot of short films," he said, encouraging young hopefuls to focus on consistent practice rather than simply conceptualizing ideas. He further reflected on the patience required to bring a film to completion, describing the importance of adapting to unexpected obstacles that arise during production despite thorough preparation.

The viral moment from the Salem event has since fueled further discussion among fans and observers regarding the nature of the relationship between father and son, with some interpreting the crowd's enthusiastic TVK chants, and Jason's good-natured response to them, as a sign of continued goodwill despite the Chief Minister's absence from the event. Neither Vijay nor Jason has publicly addressed the rumored rift directly, leaving fans and media outlets to continue speculating as Sigma's promotional campaign moves forward ahead of its October release.

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