Writer ready to reduce fee till entertainment tax revision in TN

Chennai, July 3 (IANS) Well known Tamil writer and lyricist Madhan Karky on Monday said he is ready to reduce his remuneration by 15 per cent till the tax situation in Tamil Nadu is sorted out.

Following the government's announcement to levy 30 per cent entertainment tax over the GST rate of 28 per cent last week, Tamil filmdom has been in disarray.

Theatres across Tamil Nadu have been shutdown from Monday in protest against the double taxation.

"Disheartening to see cinema halls closed. Hope the tax is revised and the industry gets back on track. Until the revision, I am willing to reduce 15 per cent off my remuneration for songs and dialogues, if that would help the industry," Karky tweeted.

Filmmakers such as R. Kannan and Vijay have expressed stiff opposition to the theatre shutdown.

Kannan's latest Tamil directorial "Ivan Thanthiran" hit the screens on June 30. The ban would "kill my film", he said.

"I have borrowed money and produced Ivan Thanthiran'. How am I going to replay if theatres are closed? This is like killing a newborn. My film has just released and this move will kill my film. I really don't know what I should do now," a very emotional Kannan told IANS.

Kannan has urged the Tamil Nadu Film Director's Association to intervene in the matter.

"I request to my peers in director's association to look into this matter. I'm helpless and I really need a miracle," he said.

Filmmaker Vijay, whose Tamil drama "Vanamagan" is in its second week in cinemas, has a similar plea.

"While I agree with the Chamber's concern over double taxation, they also need to take into consideration the fate of films that are currently running in cinemas. My film has just entered second week of successful run and when things finally started to look good, this announcement took everybody by surprise," Vijay said.