In a Diwali boost for the Tamil film industry, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has sanctioned ₹15.68 crore in subsidies for 224 films, India Today reported.
The announcement was made at an event in Chennai’s Chepauk, ending a seven-year wait for funds that had reportedly remained pending. Each eligible producer received ₹7 lakh under the scheme.
The cheques were distributed by Minister Rajmohan, with the selected films spanning productions released between 2015 and 2022. The beneficiaries were identified based on the recommendations of a selection committee chaired by retired Justice SK Krishnan, according to ETV Bharat.
In a tweet, film producer Siva, who has backed films like Saroja (2008) expressed his gratitude. "My heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Joseph Vijay, for immediately releasing approximately ₹16 crore in grant funds for 224 films that had been pending for seven years, thereby instilling new hope and prosperity in the lives of 224 producers!"
He added, "This is not merely a grant… it is a Diwali gift received by numerous families dependent on the film industry! Among the beneficiaries, 90% are individuals who have lost their livelihoods due to film production. There is no doubt that this assistance will bring about a resurgence in their lives. Thanks on behalf of 224 producers and their families!"
Meanwhile, Tamil cinema has been seeing a wave of resurgence at the box office in the last few months of 2026. The Nelson Dilipkumar-directed actioner Jailer 2 has officially breached the unprecedented ₹800 crore gross milestone worldwide during its third Sunday. In doing so, it has cemented its position as the highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, comfortably eclipsing the long-standing record of Rajinikanth's own 2018 sci-fi epic, 2.0.