'Thalapathy' Vijay's highly-anticipated Master is finally out in theatres around the world starting today as a grand Pongal treat, with the excitement among fans sky-high after they had to wait nearly a year due to the film's release being pushed from April last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj under Xavier Britto's XB Film Creators banner, with Lalit Kumar's 7 Screen Studios handling the distribution, Master has taken a phenomenal opening around Tamil Nadu, with fans assembling at theatres and cinema halls to catch the first show of the film at the wee hours of the morning. 

Master has arrived in theatres in the state after the Tamil Nadu government had granted permission for cinema halls and multiplexes, including single screens to function at 50% occupancy. In that light, Kasi Theatres in Chennai has now been booked by the police based on a complaint for violating the government's order on the occupancy and allowing more viewers to watch Master, with the MGR Nagar police station also fining the popular cinema hall for Rs. 5000/- It is to be noted that a majority of theatres and cinema halls in Chennai city had operated at 100% occupancy for the first three to four shows (4AM, 8AM, 11.30AM and 12PM shows), with the matinee and evening shows set to begin screening at 50% occupancy. Reactions of fans from the first screenings of Master have clearly revealed that no social distancing, including any of the COVID-19 norms were followed by theatres in Chennai city. 

There had been a huge debate surrounding the 'Thalapathy' Vijay and 'Makkal Selvan' Vijay Sethupathi starrer Master's release, with the Tamil Nadu government initially issuing an order for theatres in the state to operate at 100% occupancy, which later got revoked after the Ministry of Home Affairs had objected to the decision. Concerns were also raised by many on social media over the decision as it sparked the fear of the spread of the novel coronavirus considering the pandemic has not seen a complete improvement. The COVID-19 norms not adhered to today by many theatres in Chennai city on the first day of Master's release was something that was also visible during the advance bookings when fans thronged to get tickets.