Tamil Nadu's cinema industry is set to get a boost ahead of Diwali, with Chief Minister and actor C Joseph Vijay approving a temporary increase in the number of daily screenings for new Tamil films.

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A fresh government order allows theatres across the state to schedule six shows a day, including early-morning screenings from 6 AM. The decision comes as several major releases prepare to arrive in cinemas this festive season.

Under the new order, theatres can screen newly released Tamil films six times a day, beginning at 6 AM and continuing until 2.30 AM the following day. The relaxation will remain in force for one week from a film's release. It follows requests from representatives of the Tamil film industry, including the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, the Tamil Film Producers Council and the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association.

The return of 6 AM shows marks a significant change for exhibitors. Since the January 2023 stampede during the release of Ajith Kumar's Thunivu, theatres in Tamil Nadu have been restricted to four shows a day. The limit was enforced under the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957, along with Condition 14-A of the Form C licence issued to cinema theatres.

The latest decision also extends beyond the first week of a film's release. The revised provisions cover local festival days, public holidays and weekends, giving theatres greater flexibility during periods when audience turnout is expected to be higher.

The three industry bodies had approached the government with a series of requests, one of which was to allow six screenings a day during a film's opening week.

Producer and distributor G Dhananjhayen shared the government announcement on X and thanked Vijay and Rajmohan for responding to the industry's appeal.

“Thank you #CMVijay sir & thank you #Rajmohan sir for this quick response and Government Order. We at Tamil Cinema wish to express our gratitude to both of you for this great support,” he wrote.

The revised screening schedule is expected to benefit the new Tamil films arriving around Diwali. However, it is not yet clear whether dubbed Tamil releases will also be eligible for the additional shows.

Among the films set to gain from the decision are Jithu Madhavan's ‘Scene’, starring Suriya, Nazriya Nazim and Naslen, and Sundar C's ‘Mookuthi Amman 2’, featuring Nayanthara and Regena Cassandra. Both films are scheduled to release on November 6.

Nitesh Tiwari's ‘Ramayana’, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, is also due for a Tamil release. Whether it will be allowed to have six screenings a day under the new order, however, remains uncertain.