The Tamil Nadu government has allowed theatres to hold up to six shows a day for newly released Tamil films during the first seven days of their run. According to a press release dated November 3, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay approved the change. It applies to Suriya's upcoming film Scene, which is set to release on November 6, 2026, during the Diwali celebrations, as reported by FilmiBeat.
Key points
- New Tamil films can have up to six shows a day in their first seven days in theatres.
- The screening window runs from 6 AM until 2:30 AM the next day.
- The order does not fix show timings, so each theatre will decide its own schedule.
- Scene, starring Suriya, is due in theatres on November 6, 2026.
What the new order says
Under the revised permission, theatres can schedule up to six shows of Scene on its opening day. The earliest show can begin at 6 AM, and screenings can continue until 2:30 AM the following day. The same arrangement will apply through the film's first week.
The government has specified only the number of shows and the overall screening window. It has not set timings for individual theatres. The exact first-day-first-show timings for Scene will therefore depend on what theatre operators announce. The six-show allowance is also not a requirement, and no cinema has to run all six shows.
The order also provides for up to six daily shows on local festival days, public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Background to the decision
The decision follows requests from the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, the Tamil Film Producers Council and the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association. They had asked the state government for additional screenings for new Tamil films, especially in their opening week.
Under the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957, theatres were generally allowed four shows a day. In May 2026, the Vijay-led government raised this to five shows a day for new Tamil films during their first seven days. It also allowed five shows on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and local festival days. The November 3 announcement raises the limit to six. The Chief Minister has directed the government to amend the existing rules accordingly.
A post shared from the Tamil cinema industry said the request was made on October 27 to the minister Rajmohan, and that permission for the 6 AM special shows came within a week. The post thanked both the Chief Minister and the minister for the quick response.
About the film
Scene is written and directed by Jithu Madhavan, and it is his Tamil directorial debut. Suriya, Nazriya Nazim and Naslen play the lead roles. Naslen and composer Sushin Shyam are also making their Tamil film debuts. The film is produced by Jyotika and Suriya under Zhagaram Studios and 2D Entertainment. Anandraj, Lal and Raj Priyan are among the other actors.
Vineeth Augustian handles the cinematography and Ajmal Sabu is the editor. The trailer was released on October 31, along with the audio launch. Viewers planning to watch the film on its opening day should check booking platforms or their local theatres for confirmed show timings.
