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The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, has passed an order allowing special 6 am shows for new releases, ahead of the anticipated Diwali releases. The order allows theatres across Tamil Nadu to screen newly released films in six daily shows, starting at 6 AM and running until 2.30 AM the following day.
The order expands the existing four-show schedule, which begins at 9 AM, allowing theatres to add early morning screenings for newly released films during their opening week. Suriya's Scene and Nayanthara's Mookuthi Amman 2, both set to release on November 6, will be the first films to benefit from the decision.
At a recent tripartite meeting with the Tamil Nadu government, representatives of the Tamil Film Producers Council, Tamil Film Active Producers Association, Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Associations, and Tamil Nadu Active Distributors Association sought permission for screenings to begin at 6 AM and continue until 2 AM, with theatres allowed to schedule multiple shows within that window. They said the move would help new releases, particularly during festival weekends, compete on a level playing field with films worldwide.
The previous government had banned early morning shows following a tragedy outside a popular Chennai theatre, wherein a fan lost his life during release day celebrations of Tamil film star Ajith's movie Thunivu in 2023.
The members of Tamil Film Active Producers Association put out a press note welcoming the move. "Due to an unforeseen incident in January 2023 at a popular theatre, the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. shows were stopped in Tamil Nadu by the State Government and since then Tamil Cinema lost its level playing field with most neighbouring States (Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra/Telangana) starting Tamil films at 6 a.m. With Overseas territory screening starting at the same time, before the show begins in Tamil Nadu at 9 a.m., the narrative on the film has been set by the audience and critics, who have seen the film in either neighbouring states or in overseas at 6 a.m," the note pointed out.
"We wish to thank both our Chief Minister and Hon. Minister for this kind gesture, that enables one additional show during festival weekends for new films and also helps to ensure Tamil cinema is screened across the world at the same time," the producers said. Earlier in the week, the Tamil Nadu government had also granted subsidies to more than 200 film producers.