Film producers decide not to release Tamil movies from Friday

Chennai: The Tamil Film Producers Council has decided not to release new Tamil movies from Friday in protest against the levy of 10 percent local body tax.

Noting that film producers were facing difficulties after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax from July 1, the council in a statement said the announcement of levying an additional 10 percent local body tax has come as a ‘shock’ to the industry. There’s been a 28 percent GST on films.

“The council has already expressed its stand on the issue during various meetings with government officials,” it said. The Tamil Film Producers Council has decided not to release new Tamil movies from Friday in protest against the levy of 10 per cent local body tax.

The council said it decided in a meeting today to request the government to withdraw the local body tax, and also that no new Tamil movie would be released from Friday.

Theatres across the state had remained shut for a few days following the implementation of the GST in July. They opened following a request by the government and the announcement to form a committee to look into their demands.