Advance bookings have opened for Tamil star Vijay’s new movie Mersal across theatres in Tamil Nadu. Atlee’s film, in which Vijay plays three roles, will be released on October 20, which is also Diwali.

Mersal was the biggest casualty of the agitation by the Tamil Nadu Producers Council over the issue of double taxation of movie tickets. The council had temporarily stalled the release of new Tamil film releases to protest the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to levy an entertainment tax of 10% on upcoming Tamil films and 20% on non-Tamil productions, in addition to Goods and Services Tax at 28%

According to The Indian Express, the government and the council have agreed at keeping the local body tax at 8% for Tamil films. However, the 20% tax on non-Tamil films is still in place and will be considered for an amendment, said the report.

Vijay’s considerable fan base has already started crowding single screen cinemas to buy tickets. Co-starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kajal Aggarwal, Nithya Menon and SJ Surya as the villain.