Tamil Nadu CM Vijay allows six daily shows starting 6 am
Theatres in Tamil Nadu can now screen new Tamil films six times a day for one week from their release date.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has permitted theatres to screen new Tamil films up to six times a day for one week starting from their release date, according to reports by Mint and Hindustan Times. The new order allows screenings to begin at 6 am and continue until 2:30 am the following day.
The decision follows requests from the Tamil Film Producers Council, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, and the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association. These industry groups sought an increase in daily shows to meet demand for new releases. The government stated it intends to propose amendments to the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957, to formalise this change.
Previously, Rule 14-A of the 1957 rules permitted four shows per day. Under the current administration, the limit was relaxed to five shows during a film's first seven days, as well as on weekends, public holidays, and local festivals. The new order extends this limit to six shows for the first week of a film's release, as well as for Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and local festival days.
Early morning shows had been restricted since January 2023, following a fatal incident during the release of the film Thunivu. The Hindustan Times reported that a fan died after falling from a moving lorry in Chennai while celebrating the film's release. Since then, theatres were generally permitted to start screenings from 9 am.
The new timings are expected to benefit Diwali releases, including Scene, starring Suriya, and Mookuthi Amman 2, starring Nayanthara, which are scheduled for release on November 6. It is currently unclear if the same permissions will apply to the Tamil release of Ramayana.