Suriya, Trisha Krishnan’s ‘Karuppu’ Morning Special Shows Cancelled Days After CM Vijay Granted Permission
Suriya and Trisha Krishnan’s ‘Karuppu’ missed its scheduled 9am shows, hours before release after financial issues persisted. Its noon screenings have also been cancelled.
In a massive heartbreak for cinephiles eagerly awaiting the blockbuster team-up of Suriya and Trisha Krishnan, the highly anticipated Tamil film ‘Karuppu’ has run into major last-minute roadblocks. Just hours before its worldwide theatrical release scheduled for Thursday, May 14, the film’s special 9 AM early morning shows were officially cancelled across theatres, leaving thousands of loyal fans utterly disappointed. In another major update coming in now, ‘Karuppu’ noon screenings have also been officially cancelled. The film is now expected to release from the evening shows if all issues are resolved on time.
The drama unfolded at around 1 AM on release day when producer SR Prabu took to X (formerly Twitter) to drop the bombshell.
“Due to unavoidable reasons 9am shows will be cancelled for Karuppu. Our sincere apologies to everyone!” he wrote. While the official statement cited "unavoidable reasons," multiple reports from the industry and theatre owners indicate that a brewing financial settlement involving the production company caused the sudden disruption. Theatres had reportedly already paused advance bookings for these early screenings as discussions continued behind the scenes.
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Adding to the sting of the cancellation is the fact that the ‘Karuppu’ team had just secured a rare victory. On Tuesday, the newly elected Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Vijay, had granted special permission allowing five shows per day for the film’s first two days in theatres, including the coveted 9 AM slot. The makers had even celebrated this on X, sharing a photo of CM Vijay at work and thanking him. Early morning screenings have largely been avoided by Tamil Nadu theatres in recent years due to law and order concerns stemming from massive fan frenzies on big release days, making this approval a massive deal for the audience.
Director and actor RJ Balaji had earlier acknowledged the looming financial issues, expressing hope they would be resolved by the night of May 13. In an emotional message to fans, he highlighted the film's long, 32-month journey: “Dearest fans, I don't have a concrete answer to the current situation. Producers are doing their best to solve the hurdles. This film has always had hurdles, and somehow God has made us sail through all that, and here we are after 32 months.” He added a spirited Tamil note, promising that ‘Karuppu’ would break every obstacle and eventually release grandly.
Despite his optimism, the sudden cancellation sparked intense frustration online. Fans, who have been waiting for over two years, flooded social media with their grievances. "Please postpone the release till tomorrow and plan it properly. Kindly don't play with fans' emotions, bro," wrote one disgruntled user on X. Others were left confused about their weekend plans, with one asking, "I have booked my tickets for Friday 11:30 AM. Will the movie release on Friday???" The makers have also yet to clarify if the 9 AM show cancellations apply to all states, such as neighboring Kerala.
Written and directed by RJ Balaji, ‘Karuppu’ boasts a massive ensemble cast. Alongside Suriya and Trisha, the film stars Yogi Babu, Mansoor Ali Khan, Indrans, Natty Subramaniam, Swasika, Sshivada, Anagha Maya Ravi, Supreeth Reddy, George Maryan, Aadukalam Naren, Namo Narayana, Deepa Shankar, Lollu Sabha Maaran, and Jaffer Sadiq.
The technical crew features music by Sai Abhyankkar, cinematography by GK Vishnu, editing by R Kalaivanan, production design by Arun Venjaramoodu, and stunt choreography by Anbariv and Vikram Mor. It is produced by SR Prakash Babu and SR Prabu under the Dream Warrior Pictures banner with Aravendaraj Baskaran as executive producer.
