May 26, 2026 3:57pm IST
Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay Permits Cinema Halls To Screen Five Shows Daily
In a landmark decision, after becoming the CM of Tamil Nadu on May 10, C. Joseph Vijay has officially amended theatre regulations approving all cinema halls across the state to screen five shows a day. He has amended Rule 14-A of the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957, completely restructuring decades-old theatre screening policies
The directive states that theatres can screen five shows a day for the first seven days of any newly released Tamil film, bypassing the need to acquire special government permissions. Furthermore, this rule automatically applies on weekends, public holidays, and local festival days. In welcome news for theatre owners, they don’t have to apply for separate approvals from licensing authorities or district collectors for these dates.
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Background
These reforms materialized after a high-profile meeting on May 16, 2026, between CM Vijay and industry veterans like actor Kamal Haasan. The latter met Vijay at the Secretariat to submit a multi-point memorandum on theatre reforms.
A prime point raised at the meeting highlighted that eliminating the rigid four-show cap was vital to overcome financial pressures created by online piracy and rapid OTT release timelines. The addition of the 5th show is a way to ensure a massive surge in cinema bookings during opening weeks, effectively protecting the revenue baseline for producers, distributors, and single-screen owners alike.
Ticket pricing
Multiplex Ceiling: Owners requested fixing the baseline maximum ticket rate cap at ₹250 across Tamil Nadu multiplexes (up from the long-standing base of ₹188 to ₹200 to adjust for rising operational expenses).
Premium Formats: The proposal seeks a separate upper cap of ₹450 for large-format premium screens (such as IMAX or EPIQ setups)
Single Screens/Normal Theatres: A standardized ceiling of ₹300 for normal non-premium cinema screens
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