Govt looks Tamil film industry issues

Concerned over benefits extended to the film industry not reaching the public, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the constitution of a seven-member committee to go into the entire gamut of issues relating to the industry like abolition of entertainment tax and reduction of outdoor shooting charges. M Karunanidhi, chief minister, Tamil Nadu, said that noted film producer AVM Saravanan, producer and president of the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association 'Abirami' Ramanathan, Coimbatore mayor R Venkatachalam, former chairman of Alandur municipality RS Bharathi and the secretaries of home, commercial taxes and information departments would be members of the committee. Karunanidhi said the government was receiving complaints from local bodies that their tax revenue had been affected following the waiver of entertainment tax to films. The DMK government had waived the 15 per cent entertainment tax levied on Tamil movies, adding a rider that the waiver would be application only if the film's title was in Tamil.

This was a measure largely aimed at encouraging producers to name their films in Tamil. It was introduced at a time when it had become fashionable for films to be given English titles. Entertainment tax, however, is applicable to English and other language movies and films dubbed from other languages. The government had also brought down the charges for outdoor shooting. During the previous AIADMK regime, the charges had been hiked in a big way. Karunanidhi expressed his disappointment that the benefits of these measures had not been passed on to the public by the industry which enjoyed these concessions. The committee will give its suggestions on review the continuance of these concessions. It will also give its views on entertainment tax, films, cinema complexes, outdoor charges and other important issues, after holding consultations with the film industry, representatives of local bodies and the public.