C. Joseph Vijay Approves Five Daily Shows for New Films in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government has approved a significant change in cinema screening regulations, allowing theatres across the state to screen up to five shows a day for newly released films during their opening week. The decision was announced under the leadership of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and is being viewed as a major boost for the Tamil film industry.

Under the revised rules, theatres will no longer need special permission from district authorities to conduct an additional screening for new releases during the first seven days after release. Earlier, cinema halls were generally restricted to four regular shows a day, while a fifth show could only be organised with approval during festivals or special occasions.

The move follows recent discussions between the state government and members of the Tamil film industry, including theatre owners and producers, who had sought greater flexibility in screening schedules. Industry representatives argued that additional screenings during the opening week would help improve revenue collection, particularly for big-budget films that rely heavily on strong first-week box office performance.

The revised regulation will also apply during weekends, public holidays, and festival periods, reducing administrative procedures for theatre operators across the state. Theatre owners have welcomed the decision, saying it could increase audience access to new films and support the recovery of cinema businesses after recent industry challenges. The policy marks one of the first major entertainment-sector initiatives introduced by the Vijay-led government since taking office earlier this year.