(This article is authored by Alar)

Jailer, starring superstar Rajinikanth, is all set to hit the screens coming Thursday, August 10. The film, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, has generated a huge buzz among the fans and the trade circles, thanks to the chartbuster songs, the captivating showcase, and the star-studded cast including Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, and Jackie Shroff. However, not everything is rosy for the Thalaivar fans in Tamil Nadu, as they will have to wait longer than the rest of the country to watch their idol on the big screen.

Due to the government restrictions imposed after the ‘Thunivu’ and ‘Varisu’ clash in January 2023, which even resulted in the death of a fan, early morning shows in Tamil Nadu have been cancelled. This means that there will be no 4 am or 7 am shows for ‘Jailer’ in the state, and the first show will begin at 9 am. This has disappointed many Rajinikanth fans who were eagerly waiting to celebrate their hero’s film with fanfare and frenzy.

As if that was not enough, the fans in Tamil Nadu will also have to deal with the fact that ‘Jailer’ will release a day earlier at 6 pm in other states like Kerala, Karnataka, North India, and Telugu states. This will expose them to the risk of online spoilers and reviews from other state fans, who will get to watch the film before them. Some fans have even requested the makers to postpone the release date or delay the shows in other states to avoid this situation.

However, despite these hurdles, ‘Jailer’ is expected to take a massive opening at the box office, as Rajinikanth’s films always do. According to trade experts, the film could take a Rs 50-60 crore opening worldwide on Day 1. The film has also secured over 90% of screens in Tamil Nadu, which shows the craze and demand for it. The film is also expected to do well overseas, especially in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Japan, where Rajinikanth has a huge fan following.

‘Jailer’ is a black comedy-action film that revolves around Muthuvel Pandian, a strict yet empathetic jailer who learns that a gang is trying to rescue their leader from the prison. He sets out to stop them with his wit and courage.  The music of the film is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, produced by Sun Pictures.