The Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) has announced that there will be no new Tamil film releases from September 1, 2026 amid an escalating dispute with cinema owners and distributors over the exclusive theatrical window before films release on OTT. The TFPC has also said that film shootings and post-production work will come to a halt from September 1 if the issue remains unresolved.
The decision was taken after cinema owners and distributors sought a written undertaking from producers that new films would not be released on OTT for eight weeks from the date of their theatrical release. Producers are opposing the eight-week window, arguing that the decision was taken without proper consultation and could affect producers’ ability to recover their investments through OTT deals. Producers, who want the theatrical window to be of four weeks, have urged the Tamil Nadu government to intervene and resolve the dispute.
If the shutdown happens, the release of several Tamil films could be affected. Among the films lined up for release are Sardar 2, Mandaadi, Demonte Colony 3, Dorothy and Meesaya Murukku 2.