The release of actor Joseph Vijay’s Leo, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by S.S. Lalit Kumar and Seven Screen Studio, on October 19 following a case in the Madras High Court has exposed the ingenious workaround created by exhibitors and distributors to overcome the Tamil Nadu government’s leash on the business of the film industry.
Since January 2023, the State government has denied permission for early morning shows citing law-and-order concerns. Two weeks ago, the State government passed an order stating that theatres can hold one extra show (a fifth show) for Leo every day for six days starting October 19 given the high demand. The order said the first show could be screened at 9 a.m. Seven Screen Studio approached the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the State government to permit a special 4 a.m. show on the day of the film’s release and to permit five shows a day from 7 a.m. (instead of 9 a.m.) between October 19 and 24.
In the last few decades, the exhibition and distribution business has changed dramatically. Thanks to digital cinema, the distribution of Tamil films across the world is now possible at a reasonable cost. But this has also meant that distributors and exhibitors have to make their money within the first few days before possible negative reviews succeed in changing the fortunes of a film.
