Representational image. In this file photo: A movie screen at Luxe cinemas, Chennai.
The stand off between film producers and Tamil Nadu government over the imposition of additional entertainment has come to a conclusion.
According to media reports, the theatre strike has been called off after the government agreed to reduce the Local Body Entertainment Tax (LBET) from 10 to eight percent.
A notification issued by the Greater Chennai Corp (GCC) had levyied a LBET of 20 percent on non-Tamil films and 10 percent on Tamil films with effect from September 27 in addition to the 28 percent GST on cinema tickets.
It is yet be known whether there is any tax reduction for non-Tamil films.
According to a Behindwoods report, Actor Vishal and Tamil Producers Council President and other industry members met Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy to discuss the issue on 10th October Tuesday.
The Tamil Film Producers Council, Nadigar Sangam and Theatre Owners Association in Tamil Nadu met government official to remove the entertainment tax levied by local bodies in addition to the Goods and Services Tax.
Around 11 movies were held up due to the strike.
Earlier ‘solo’, Bejoy Nambiar’s Tamil- Malayalam bilingual starring Dulquer Salmaan was released on 5th October but was pulled off from the theatres the next day when the strike was called.
Saif Ali Khan’s “Chef”, “Blade Runner 2049” and Tamil film “Vizhithiru” were also scheduled to hit the screens on Friday.
Also waiting to release is Vijay’s big budget starrer ‘Mersal’ which is slated for an October 18th release.
Source: The New Indian Express