The Tamil Nadu government has taken the unusual step of granting special morning screening permissions for the social awareness film Pachai Vilakku (Green Light), recognizing its message of road safety and its potential to educate a wider audience. The film, written and directed by Dr. Maran, focuses on the importance of following traffic rules and the consequences of violations.
“The Tamil Nadu government has been giving a lot of importance to road safety and is taking various measures,” Dr. Maran explained. “As a result, Pachai Vilakku—the first film in Tamil cinema to focus on road safety and create awareness among school and college students, factory workers, and other road users—has been granted permission for special screenings.”
This decision marks a departure from the usual practice of granting such permissions only to big-budget films during festive periods. The government order allows for special screenings of Pachai Vilakku from May 1st to June 15th between 9 am and 11:30 am across theaters in Tamil Nadu.
The film industry considers this an honor, as it‘s the first time a film has received such extended special screening permission. Previously, at the film‘s music launch, renowned director Bharathiraja lauded the film and Dr. Maran, praising the production company, Digithink Media Works, for creating an awareness film worthy of government recognition. K. Bhagyaraj, known as the “Screenplay King,” also received the film positively.
Pachai Vilakku premiered just before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and has since garnered critical acclaim and won several awards at international film festivals, including those in London, Bhutan, and New York. Dr. Maran, who holds a doctorate in Traffic Regulations and Road Safety and is currently a professor, also plays the lead role in the film, portraying a Tamil Nadu Police Traffic Warden. Actor Imman Annachi plays a traffic police officer.
DigiThink Media Works is planning to re-release the film in multiple theaters across Tamil Nadu starting May 17th, hoping to reach a broader audience with its timely message of road safety.