With Vijay's much-awaited film, Leo, hitting screens on October 19, the makers requested the government to facilitate a 4 a.m. and a 7 a.m. show on the day of the release, and an extra 7 a.m. show from October 20 to 24.
While the Government granted permission for 5 shows per day from October 19 to 24, it did not permit early morning special shows. The makers then took the case to the High Court, which was heard on Tuesday morning, by Justice Anitha Sumanth.
Anitha Sumanth has now directed the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider the issue of allowing shows from 7 a.m. between October 19 to 24. Further, she refrained from passing any orders on the special shows at 4 a.m. on October 19, as the government order of the case has not been challenged.
Ruling out issuing a positive order on the plea for an early morning show, she said, “The court can’t give a direction to the State to allow such special shows. The powers for allowing such shows vest with the State.”
SS Lalitkumar, the producer of Leo, and the representatives of the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association have been ordered to appear before the government officials for talks at 4 p.m. on Tuesday evening.
The Home Secretary issued directions for allowing one special show from October 19 to 24 with a maximum of five shows per day with a condition that the screening shall start only at 9 a.m. and end at 1.30 a.m.
Even though it takes 18 hours and 45 minutes cumulatively to screen all five shows of the movie per day, the Home Secretary has permitted the five shows within 16 hours and 30 minutes. The theatres would be able to screen five shows a day only if the show timing starts at 7 a.m. However, the Secretary has inadvertently restricted the timings to 16 hours and 30 minutes through a GO, the petition stated.
Leo, written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, also stars Trisha, Mysskin, Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, Priya Anand, and Mansoor Ali Khan among others. The film marks the second collaboration of Vijay with Lokesh after Master.
