Tamil Nadu permits 6 AM shows and six screenings for new releases

Tamil Nadu is making room for a bigger Diwali box office. A new state government order permits theatres to run six shows a day for newly released Tamil films during their first seven days, with the screening window starting as early as 6 AM and running until 2:30 AM the next day.

What the new order changes

Under the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957, exhibitors were earlier allowed four shows a day. In May 2026, the government let new Tamil releases add one extra show during their first week and allowed five shows on weekends and public holidays. This latest order raises the first-week cap to six screenings and applies the relaxed window to weekends, local festival days and public holidays.

The change follows representations from the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, the Tamil Film Producers Council and the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association. Producer-distributor G Dhananjhayen noted that the industry submitted its request to Minister Rajmohan on October 27.

Why the 6 AM shift matters

Early-morning screenings had stayed restricted for more than three years after a stampede during the release of Ajith Kumar’s Thunivu in 2023. Bringing them back ahead of Diwali is a significant signal: the state is betting that extra capacity can serve strong opening-week demand while theatres manage crowd flow.

For fans, the benefit is simple. Six shows and a 6 AM start create more chances to catch a big opener before tickets get scarce, and they make the first Friday of a major release feel like an event again. For exhibitors, the wider window also means planning staff and safety measures across a much longer operating day.

What fans should keep in mind

• New Tamil films can run six daily shows for their first seven days.
• The allowed window runs from 6 AM to 2:30 AM the next day.
• The relaxed rules cover weekends, local festival days and public holidays.
• Not every festive release has confirmed eligibility—check title-level timings before booking.

The Diwali films to watch

Suriya’s Scene and Nayanthara’s Mookuthi Amman 2 are scheduled for November 6 and are expected to benefit from the extra screenings. The Tamil-dubbed release of Ramayana also sits in the festive line-up, although its eligibility for the additional shows has not been clarified. That makes local theatre listings the most reliable guide for the opening weekend.

Source: Only Kollywood