Tamil Nadu has allowed theatres to start screenings of new Tamil films from 6 AM and to run up to six shows a day in the first week — an industry demand met just before Deepavali.
Tamil Nadu has allowed theatres to start screenings of new Tamil films from 6 AM and to run up to six shows a day in the first week — an industry demand met just before Deepavali.
Good news for film fans before Deepavali: the Tamil Nadu government has issued an order allowing theatres to screen newly released Tamil films from 6 AM and to run up to six shows a day during a film’s first week. The order was reported on 3 November 2026.
| Rule | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Earliest show | 9 AM (since 2023) | 6 AM |
| Shows a day, new Tamil film | 4 (5 on weekends from May 2026) | Up to 6 in the first week |
| Last show may end by | — | 2:30 AM next day (reported) |
Some reports say the six-show limit applies on weekends, festival days and public holidays, with five shows on other days of the opening week. The exact wording of the order was not available to us; we will update this story when it is.
Early-morning shows had been stopped for more than three years after a 2023 incident during a big release. Producers’ and theatre owners’ associations had asked for more shows and earlier screenings; their request reached the government on 27 October. More shows mean more tickets for fans on release week and more revenue for theatres and producers.
The first big releases to benefit are expected to be Suriya’s Scene and Nayanthara’s Mookuthi Amman 2, both due on 6 November.