Theatres across Tamil Nadu can screen newly released Tamil films up to six times a day, starting as early as 6 AM, for the first week after release. The state government announced the decision in press release No. 978 dated 3 November 2026, saying Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had ordered the change after considering a request from the film industry.
What the order allows
Every theatre in the state may now run no more than six shows a day of a new Tamil film during its first week, with screenings permitted between 6 AM and 2:30 AM the following day. The government added that the six-show limit will also apply on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and local festival days.
According to the release, the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957 are to be amended to give effect to the decision. Beyond the show limit and the timing window, the release set out no other conditions for theatres.
How the rules stood before
Condition 14-A of the Form C licence issued under the 1957 rules has allowed theatres four shows a day, the government noted. After the present government took office, it permitted five daily shows for new Tamil films during their first seven days, and five shows on weekends, public holidays and festival days, an arrangement that remained in force until this order.
Who asked for the change
The government said the request came from the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), the Tamil Film Producers Council and the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association. In a statement issued the same day, TFAPA thanked the Chief Minister for "enabling Level Playing field for Tamil Cinema with 6 a.m. show".
The producers' body said 5 AM and 6 AM shows had been stopped in the state after an incident at a theatre in January 2023, while Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana kept opening Tamil films at 6 AM. It credited A. Rajmohan, Minister for Information and Publicity, with taking the industry's case to the Chief Minister after a meeting with the government, which it said also involved the Tamil Nadu Active Distributors Association.
