Just two days after being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay has made a headline-grabbing move that has delighted fans and the Tamil film fraternity. Vijay has granted special approval for 9 am screenings of ‘Karuppu’, the upcoming action drama led by Suriya and Trisha Krishnan.

On Tuesday evening, the film’s producers announced the update on social media, sharing a photograph of Vijay at work in his Chief Minister’s office. Their post read, "Special thanks to our honorable Chief Minister Thiru. Joseph Vijay for granting the special permission for the 9AM shows of #Karuppu. #Karuppu - FDFS begins at 9AM, from May 14."

Early morning shows return in Tamil Nadu

While dawn and early-morning screenings are common in several other Indian states, theatres in Tamil Nadu have largely avoided them in recent years due to law-and-order concerns surrounding major star releases. Vijay’s approval marks a rare exception and signals a shift in exhibition policy under the new administration.

About ‘Karuppu’

‘Karuppu’, written and directed by RJ Balaji, is set for a worldwide theatrical release on 14 May 2026. The film, with a duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes, features an ensemble cast including Indrans, Natty Subramaniam, Swasika, Sshivada, Anagha Maya Ravi and Supreeth Reddy. Music is composed by Sai Abhyankkar.

Watch trailer:

The action drama has built notable anticipation among audiences, further bolstered by strong advance sales across Tamil Nadu and other parts of India.

‘Karuppu’ advance bookings

According to early industry estimates, ‘Karuppu’ crossed ₹2 crore in all-India advance bookings by the morning of 13 May. In Tamil Nadu alone, the film had surpassed ₹1.90 crore in opening-day advance sales within roughly 36 hours of tickets going live on 12 May.

Actor R Madhavan also shared the trailer on his social media handles, urging fans to secure their tickets as bookings officially opened.

About Vijay and Trisha

Vijay and Trisha remain one of Tamil cinema’s most successful on-screen duos, having starred together in several hit films including ‘Ghilli’, ‘Thirupaachi’, ‘Aathi’, ‘Kuruvi’, and most recently ‘Leo’. 

Their longstanding friendship has often drawn public speculation, intensified recently after Trisha attended Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony. Discussions surrounding their personal rapport continue online, though both have maintained silence on the subject.