Broadway Cinemas is a megaplus movie theater in the Coimbatore city of Tamil Nadu, which has raised eyebrows ever since it came into its privileged operation. For starters, no other movie theater in the entire Tamil Nadu state has been able to get license for operating screens with recliner seats. Broadway Cinemas does this under their premium screen called the 'Gold Lounge'. Some theaters, like the Rohini Cinemas in Chennai are known to have tried securing a license for a recliner seat screen for 7 years now i.e. since 2017, but to no avail. 

Movie theaters in Tamil Nadu are allowed to screen only 4 shows per day unless its a Sunday or a government holiday, in which case they are allowed 5 shows per day. This means that the first show of any movie screening typically begins between 9 AM - 11 AM on a weekday. However Broadway Cinemas have managed to secure legal permits to begin first day first show (FDFS) at 7 AM on their three premium screens, EPIQ (a premium format by QUBE), IMAX, and Gold Lounge (recliner seat screen).

 

The Greatest of All Time FDFS at Broadway Cinemas, Coimbatore

IMAX - 7:05 AM

EPIQ - 7:25 AM

Gold - 7:40 AM 

 

Reportedly, there have been protests from other theater owners over Broadway Cinemas, operating out of the Broadway mall in Coimbatore, being allotted special permission for their premium screens, once again to no avail.   

This scenario has resulted in The Greatest of All Time FDFS beginning at 7 AM in Tamil Nadu. The Vijay starrer sci-fi action thriller releases on September 5, 2024 (Thursday) which is marked as Teachers' day holiday in India, in honour of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's birth anniversary, who once served as the President of the country. However that Thursday is not marked as a Tamil Nadu state government holiday, meaning that The GOAT filmmakers would typically would have had to seek special permission from the state government for theaters to begin their first show at the earliest possible timing, 9 AM.  

#GOAT Storm takes over our box office this evening ! 🌪️⏳ 4 days to go 🎬🍿#IMAX #EPIQ #GOLD #ATMOS https://t.co/iIRpXMh3yz pic.twitter.com/NfjypFZRcW

— Broadway Cinemas (@CinemasBroadway) September 1, 2024

It is worth mentioning here that Broadway Cinemas like all other movie theaters, cannot screen movies at special timings in their regular screens. This 7 AM permission of Broadway Cinemas is only for their  EPIQ, IMAX and recliner seat screen, where movie tickets sell between Rs. 400-Rs.500. (The allowed pricecap for movie tickets in Tamil Nadu in Rs, 196+GST unless its an IMAX screen. The IMAX screens came into the picture in TN in 2017, and they are allowed a price range of Rs. 400 - Rs. 550. Anything other than that is illegal).