The shocking decision of the Tamil Nadu government to shut down all movie theatres in the State from Monday has sent shock waves across India’s entertainment world.
Many heavyweights of the movie industry question this decision as as an illustration of killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
One of Tamil Nadu’s sharpest and most influential voices of KamalHaasan has come out strongly Tamil Nadu’s decision to shut theatres.
Says Kamalji, “Our neighbouring states like Kerala have totally desisted from levying anymore state-tax on cinema over and aboveGST. The film industry requested the CM of Kerala Mr. PiNarayiVijayan and he through his Finance Minister quickly announced that Kerala will not be levying any more taxes on the already beleaguered film business. Karnataka has gone even further to facilitate thewellbeing of the film Industry. Telungana and Andhra Pradesh are also doing their best for their film industries.”
The angry actor wonders why the Tamil Nady gornment wants to make the movie business so difficult in the State. “It is only the Tamil Nadu government that has brought the tax to 30%. Filmmaking in this State is being made deliberately difficult in our state.Ironical that this should happen in state whose chief minister until very recently was a former actress.”
Scarily Kamalji feels the Tamil film industry should brace itself for further persecution. “There are further tortures and systemic corruption that the Tamil film Industry has to endure under the current government.”
The actor of the masses warns of a simmering discontent in the Tamil film industry. “All factions of the Industry are agitated. I am trying my best as any sensible individual of the industry to maintain solidarity and not play into the hands of any self-serving and avaricious politician.”
Interestingly Kamal Haasan claims Tamil Nadu has taken over from Bihar as having the reputation of being the most corrupt State of India. “Earlier Bihar used to be the media’s favourite whipping boy when it came to corruption. Now Tamil Nadu has left Bihar leagues behind . Film Industry is one among the many Industries asphyxiated by the prevailing systemic corruption in the State. I anticipate even stronger protests soon.”
