CM Vijay approved Suriya-Trisha’s Karuppu special shows, so why were screenings cancelled later?

Chennai: The makers of Tamil Movie Karuppu announced that the film’s planned 9 AM shows had been cancelled due to “unavoidable reasons”, creating confusion among fans just hours before the movie’s theatrical release.

Producer SR Prabhu shared the update on social media and apologised to audiences who had already booked tickets for the early screenings.

CM Vijay had approved special screenings

The cancellation came shortly after newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay granted permission for special 9 AM screenings of the film. The production team had earlier thanked Vijay publicly for allowing the additional morning shows and confirmed that the movie would receive five shows per day during its opening days.

The announcement had generated excitement among fans, especially as early morning screenings for major Tamil releases have become less common in recent years due to crowd management and law-and-order concerns.

Booking disruptions added to uncertainty

Ahead of release day, several theatres reportedly paused online ticket bookings, triggering speculation about possible distribution or internal issues connected to the film’s rollout.

Director RJ Balaji addressed fan concerns online and said the production team was trying its best to overcome the hurdles. He described the film’s journey as difficult and emotional, mentioning that the project had faced several challenges over the past 32 months.

The cancellation of the 9 AM shows sparked frustration among fans on social media, with many questioning whether the film’s release schedule would face further delays. Some users requested the makers to postpone the release entirely if the issues could not be resolved smoothly.

Others sought clarification regarding show timings in different states, including Kerala, as uncertainty continued around theatre screenings.

Despite the disruption, Karuppu recorded strong advance booking numbers in Tamil Nadu. Trade reports suggested that the film crossed impressive opening-day pre-sales figures within a short period after ticket bookings began.

The film stars Suriya and Trisha Krishnan in lead roles and marks RJ Balaji’s directorial venture. The cast also includes Indrans, Swasika, Sshivada and Supreeth Reddy in important roles, while the music has been composed by Sai Abhyankkar.