The state government of Tamil Nadu has granted permission to cinema theatres and multiplexes to reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity from November 10. But the government order has also clarified that theatres in containment zones will remain closed. 

The announcement was made by the government this evening along with several other lockdown relaxations. Though the central government had permitted the functioning of movie halls from October 16, several state governments, including Tamil Nadu, were stricter in their lockdown rules and denied permission to operate cinema theatres.

Today's announcement has got cinephiles in the state excited as theatres are reopening just four days before Deepavali. There is no word yet on whether there will be any new releases right away or if theatres will be rescreening old content for a while. 

COVID-19 safety regulations, which are followed in theatres in the rest of the country, like compulsory masks, frequent sanitization and social distancing, will be followed in Tamil Nadu too.