Kadambur Raju, TN Minister for Information and Publicity, has issued a statement asking film producers to start releasing new films from November 10 and resolve the ongoing stalemate with theatre owners. The statement comes in the wake of the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) issue between the Tamil Film Active Producers Association and theatre owners. 

Though the Tamil Nadu government has allowed theatres to function from November 10, the ongoing issue between theatre owners and Tamil film producers over the VPF charges has led to a stalemate.

Earlier, filmmaker Bharathiraja, who heads the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, announced that there will be no new Tamil releases until the VPF charges demanded by digital service providers like Qube are taken care of by theatre owners.

In response to Bharathiraja's statement, Tiruppur Subramaniam, the president of the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association, said, "Producers must stick to the status quo for theatres to function. We have formally communicated this to them. But they haven't acknowledged it yet. The audience will get clarity on the status of the new Tamil film releases and reopening of theatres once the producers get back to us."

Theatres across Tamil Nadu were shut in March due to coronavirus pandemic, and the film exhibition business has been suffering for the past seven months.