Ghilli, Veeram, Kadhalar Dhinam: Tamil box office restarts amid crisis
Tamil cinema is seeing a rise in repeat performances due to delays in new films and low viewership. Films from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s have been re-released in theaters in the past weeks, with more films scheduled for release in March.
This February, scrolling through an online movie ticket booking app revealed a situation that might confuse any Tamil cinema fan. As you scan the movie listings, you’re struck by the sheer number of re-releases – so much so that you might wonder whether you’re browsing BookMyShow or watching K TV, the channel that airs classic Tamil movies all day, every day.
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Although new films graced the screens, none left much of a mark at the box office. February and March are traditionally slow months in terms of viewership, but this year the slowdown has been nothing short of devastating for Tamil cinema.
Cinemas dust off the 1983s for Valentine’s Day Uyirullavarai Ushaof 1999 Kadhalar DhinamAnd a bunch of timeless hits from the 90s and 2000s that gave old movies a fresh take on the big screen.
reissue trend
Old classics getting theatrical performances again is not a new phenomenon. Over the years, films in many industries have found new life through re-releases. But this time, it feels different.
What was once a nostalgic treat for fans of the old classics has quietly become a go-to option for manufacturers and exhibitors. Vijay in Tamil cinema ghilliSurya’s varnam aayiramRajinikanth’s PadayappaAjit’s Mankatha and of victory Sachin Did exceptionally well upon re-release. But does the spate of re-releases really help the Tamil Nadu box office?
Tirupur Subramaniam, exhibitor and former president of Tamil Nadu Theater Association, gives a clear answer. “There is no solid revenue. Many films were re-released last week, but even if you re-release 10 films, only one of them is profitable,” he told India Today.
Is a re-release profitable or a lost opportunity?
Subramaniam attributes this trend to a lack of fresh content, leaving producers with no option but to reach out to the archives. Given the absence of major releases in February and March, he doesn’t see any quick solution.
Business analyst Ramesh Bala agrees. He points out that the two months are traditionally considered the dry season, with board exams, IPL matches, the start of Ramzan and this year’s Tamil Nadu assembly elections all crowding the calendar.
Jan Naygan and its indefinite delay
Bala also identifies a more specific trigger: the indefinite delay of victory. Jan Naygan. “It was said that Jan Naygan May be released in February. However, certification delays and a month-long legal battle pushed it back. There was so much uncertainty in the trade world that many films which were ready for release were put on hold waiting for the producers to decide on a date so that they could prepare themselves accordingly.”
The ripple effect was immediate. Radika Sarathkumar’s Thai KizhavProduced by Sivakarthikeyan, was scheduled for 20 February, but was pushed to 27 February due to confusion. A lesser-known Tamil film released last week was shelved on its opening day due to low footfall.
During this time, ghilli, which already holds the record for the highest-grossing re-release, Ready for another dramatic performance. This also includes Ajit VeeramVijay Sethupathi’s Sudhu KavvumSurya’s Mounam Pesiyadhe And many other films.
Producer Dhananjheyan feels that producers are moving forward with the trend of re-releases.
In an X post, he mentioned that this trend was the golden goose, but is now coming to an end due to the sudden increase in the number of films releasing every week. He said this could lead to audience fatigue and in turn affect small and medium budget films at the box office.
He wrote on
Is 2026 the year of the re-release?
Bala believes that this could be the year for a re-release. He said, “Theatre owners want to sell tickets, and whether it’s a new or old film doesn’t matter to them. If the producers who own the rights to these successful films have the power to promote these films aggressively, they promote them extensively. Otherwise, re-releases quietly appear on ticketing platforms without any fanfare.”
He expects the market to stabilize after April 14 or after the state elections are over. But the re-release wave is far from over – more revivals have already been planned for April and May, which shows that the nostalgia economy of Tamil cinema is far from over!
