Pongal celebrations for Tamil cinema fans in 2023 are set to be a feast in theatres as two of the biggest films will be coming out which include Ajith Kumar's Thunivu and 'Thalapathy' Vijay's Varisu. Both films are en route to getting big openings in cinemas and mark the first outing for the Tamil cinema superstars after nearly a decade when their Veeram and Jilla clashed at the box office for Pongal 2014. Udhayanidhi Stalin's Red Giant Movies will be releasing Thuninvu across Tamil Nadu, while Lalit Kumar's 7 Screen Studios is presenting Varisu in the state and the screen allotment for each of the films has been a big subject of debate among fans for some time. 

With pre-release works currently proceeding at a brisk pace for both Varisu and Thunivu, Vishal, whose Laththi is coming out on December 22, too chimed in with his thoughts about the big opening in cinemas for the Vijay and Ajith-starrers. The actor-producer said, "It's basically the survival of the fittest. You look at the landscape of Tamil cinema after six months. You're talking about Thunivu and Varisu now, but is anyone talking about small films?  Even if there is talk that small films are good, people are not coming to theatres. Audiences have shifted to OTT. They are under the mindset to watch films once it comes out on streaming four weeks after their theatrical release. Many have begun thinking why they need to spend 2000 rupees for a film, popcorn, car parking and so on. Although there's that shortfall, the theatrical audience is still there." 

Vishal continued, "The numbers that matter, the screen count that you say, it is again the survival of the fittest. You bring about 10 heroines and push them inside an elevator and close the door, you'll get the best reality TV show. Similarly, if you bring 25 active producers and make them decide, you'll see a difference of opinions. As a matter of fact, I proposed this to Sun TV and told them to do a reality TV show based on my suggestion about the heroines being shut inside an elevator." When queried about who is deciding the release dates of the films now, Vishal said, "Nobody. It is organic, I think. For example, we are coming out with our film on the 22nd and we have a vision that there's a holiday period that includes Christmas and New Year and this will go on till January 14 since no other films have been announced as yet. Similarly, once Varisu and Thunivu come out on January 14, there will be people looking to lock in the January 26 and February 14 dates. So, what matters now the most are the dates and the festivals. If you release a good film on the wrong date, it will definitely not run. People will not come to theatres. If you fix that specific date with the belief that audiences will come, they will come." 

Watch Vishal talk about the Thunivu-Varisu release and more in the video below: