Tamil Nadu has allowed cinemas across the state to screen new Tamil films up to six times a day during the first week of release, expanding the permitted operating window from the existing four or five shows. The screenings can begin at 6 am and continue until 2.30 am the following day, according to a state government announcement reported by Dinamalar.
The decision follows requests from the Tamil Film Active Producers Associations, the Tamil Film Producers Council, and the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association. The industry groups had sought permission for six shows a day in theatres across Tamil Nadu for the first seven days after a new Tamil film’s release.
Under the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957, theatres have generally operated under the conditions of the ‘C’ Form licence, including Rule 14A, which permits four screenings a day. The government’s announcement said the state had previously allowed five daily screenings for newly released Tamil films during their first seven days, along with five screenings on local festival days, public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The new order raises that ceiling to six screenings. The permission applies to newly released Tamil films for one week from their release date. The same six-show limit will also apply on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and local festival days, the government said.
The permitted schedule creates an operating window of up to 20.5 hours, from 6 am until 2.30 am the next day. The announcement sets the maximum number of screenings but does not state that every theatre must operate all six shows. Individual cinemas will still have to organise their schedules within the permitted window and comply with applicable licensing and safety conditions.
The change has implications for the way theatres allocate screens during the high-demand opening period for Tamil films. More permitted shows could allow cinemas to accommodate larger audiences during the first week, while producers and theatre owners had argued that additional screenings would support the release of new films. The announcement, however, does not provide estimates of likely audience numbers, revenue impact or additional staffing requirements.
The decision also extends the operating schedule of cinema buildings into early-morning hours. That makes compliance with existing requirements governing public safety, staff deployment, crowd management and local permissions relevant to implementation, although the government statement cited in the report does not specify any new conditions in these areas.
The order follows consultations between Chief Minister Vijay and representatives of the film production and exhibition sectors, according to the state government’s press note. The government said it intends to amend the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules to give effect to the revised limit.
The immediate next step is the proposed amendment to the cinema regulation rules. Until that process is completed, theatres and industry stakeholders will have to follow the formal government instructions and licensing framework applicable to screenings in the state.
