Chennai: After a gap of three years, movie buffs in Tamil Nadu can once again catch their favourite films in theatres as early as 6am, with the state govt on Tuesday amending the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957, to permit up to six shows a day for newly released Tamil films during their first week. The govt has also allowed six shows a day on local festival days, public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.After the TVK govt assumed office, it allowed five shows a day for newly released Tamil films during their first seven days, an increase from the earlier four shows. Under the previous arrangement, producers had to obtain a separate govt order for every film to screen a fifth special show. The latest move now extends the concession to six shows, with screenings permitted from 6am until 2.30am the following day.Chief minister C Joseph Vijay issued the order following requests from the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, Tamil Film Producers Council and Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association, which had submitted nine other demands to the government.The TVK govt has reversed a key decision taken by the previous DMK regime in 2023, when early morning shows were discontinued following the death of a fan during celebrations surrounding the release of Ajithkumar’s Thunivu. Citing law and order concerns, the DMK govt had stopped early morning screenings and allowed special 9am shows only through specific govt orders.Welcoming the move, the Tamil Nadu Film Producers Association said audiences and critics in other states and overseas markets, where films began screening at 6am, often shaped the narrative around a movie through reviews even before audiences in Tamil Nadu could watch it. “This cost us the level playing field. We thank the CM as now, the movies can be screened universally everywhere at the same time,” the association said.
