Tamil Nadu announces firecracker timings and 6 AM cinema shows for Diwali
The state government has permitted early morning film shows and set specific hours for bursting firecrackers to manage pollution.
Tamil Nadu has announced specific timings for bursting firecrackers and permitted 6 AM cinema shows for the upcoming Diwali season, according to reports by Urban Acres and Hindustan Times.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has limited the use of sound-emitting firecrackers to two one-hour windows: 6 am to 7 am and 7 pm to 8 pm. This arrangement follows directions from the Supreme Court to limit noise and pollution, and the board has advised residents to use environmentally friendly firecrackers.
In a separate development, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has issued a government order permitting six shows daily for new Tamil films between 6 am and 2:30 am the following day. This rule applies for one week from a film's release and also covers local festival days, public holidays, and weekends.
The decision to allow 6 AM shows comes after a three-year period where only four shows were permitted under the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957. The move follows requests from the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, the Tamil Film Producers Council, and the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association.
The new cinema rules will benefit upcoming releases such as Scene, Mookuthi Amman 2, and Ramayana. While Scene and Mookuthi Amman 2 are scheduled for release on November 6, it remains unclear if dubbed films like Ramayana will receive the same permission for six shows.