Chennai, Oct 13 (PTI) The week long stand off between thefilm industry bodies and the government over entertainment taxended today with the State cutting it to eight from ten percent and regulating prices of tickets to cinema halls.
Tamil Film Producers Council chief Vishal, after ameeting with Chief Minister K Palaniswami said theentertainment tax by local bodies have been cut to eight from10 per cent by the government.
However, 20 per cent tax will continue to be levied onnon-Tamil language films and a request has been made toreconsider and cut it down, he said and added, "that requestis under consideration (of the government)." The standoff saw several new Tamil flicks being held upas film producers body announced last week that new movieswould not be screened in view of the tax.
The fate of new movies of top stars like actor Vijay's'Mersal' slated for release for Deepavali next week hung inbalance.
During last week of September, a local body entertainmenttax of 10 per cent was announced by the municipal authoritieswhich was stoutly opposed by film industry bodies.
Local Administration Minister S P Velumani, Informationand Public Relations Minister Kadmbur Raju took part in thehigh level meeting at the Secretariat which was chaired byPalaniswami.
Besides Vishal, his colleagues from the Council,representatives of the Tamil Nadu Film Exhibitors Associationled by Abirami Ramanathan, film distributors including TirupurSubramaniam participated.
Vishal said the government has streamlined and now fixedthe ticket rates in cinema theatres. The ticket prices inairconditioned cinema halls throughout Tamil Nadu, other thanmultiplexes, will be a minimum of Rs 40 and maximum Rs 100.
In non-airconditioned theatres other than multiplexes,the minimum will be Rs 30 and maximum Rs 80. In multiplextheatres, a minimum of Rs 50 and a maximum of Rs 150 can becharged.
Over and above the prices, entertainment tax and GST willbe levied on cinema tickets, he added.
"No cinema theatre can charge more than the fixed ratesand one can complain if charged more," he said.
His assertion comes against the backdrop of cinematheatres charging exorbitant ticket prices for movies of topheroes like Rajinikanth.
"Cinema should not be an expensive affair for a family,it must be affordable," the Tamil film producers body chiefsaid. e and Abirami Ramanathan said also food products incinema halls will be sold only on MRP. PTI VGN SARC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.