Tamil Nadu government restores 6 am film screenings in state
The decision ends a three-year restriction on early-morning shows following a fan's death during a 2023 film release.
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday brought back 6 am screenings for new Tamil film releases, according to India Today. This move ends a three-year restriction on early-morning shows in the state.
The decision was announced on November 3 after requests from the Tamil Film Producers Council, Tamil Film Active Producers Association, and the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association. The previous restrictions were implemented in January 2023 after a fan died during celebrations for the release of Ajith Kumar's Thunivu.
Under the new rules, theatres can host up to six shows daily for new Tamil films during their opening week. The allowed timing for these screenings is between 6 am and 2.30 am the following day. This limit of six shows also applies to public holidays, weekends, and local festivals, which is an increase from the previous five-show limit.
The change aims to keep opening-day revenue within Tamil Nadu, as fans previously travelled to Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh for early shows. Suriya's Scene and Nayanthara's Mookuthi Amman 2, both releasing on November 6, are among the first films to benefit from the new rules.
The government and industry must now manage these shows to ensure safety and prevent dangerous celebrations or inflated ticket prices.