Tax exemption for Shivaji

By: Settu Shankar
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
There was a raging debate over the title of Shivaji: whether it was a Tamil name or not. All the Rajini fans and the production houses had been waiting anxiously to know the final verdict from the Govt. of Tamil Nadu. Why...? The reason is very simple. If the title was indeed found to be a Tamil name, it would be entitled for an exemption from the entertainment tax. Yesterday, the State government accepted that Shivaji is a Tamil title indeed, and the movie would be exempt from entertainment tax.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had announced last year that movies with original Tamil name will be exempted from the entertainment tax. Following that announcement, all producers have opted for Tamil titles for their movies, resulting in good revenues for theatre owners.

Some politicians have tried to politicize the issue of the title Shivaji for the movie. The MLAs belonging to the PMK party had raised questions in the Tamil Nadu Assembly whether Shivaji was a Tamil title or not. The information minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi replied that the govt had been deliberating over the issue, and now the verdict has come out.

Now, the producers of Shivaji, (AVM), are both relieved and happy, as Shivaji is a big-budget movie, and is expected to do great business at the box office.

One can remember that the channel rights of Shivaji was sold to the Kalaignar TV a few days ago. It seems that the govt has given its green signal for the tax exemption, only after this deal was struck.

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