While the vexed local entertainment tax issue has been resolved conveniently for the benefit of the government and theatres at the cost of the movie-going public, a fresh tussle is brewing between Tamil film producers and theatre owners in the state. “Henceforth, theatres should charge only the permitted fares, as per the `C’ Form notification, and not anything extra. People should file complaints with authorities against any theatre that indulges in such practice,” actor Vishal, who is also the president of Tamil Film Producers’ Council(TFPC), said on Friday .
“Theatres should also stop charging high parking fee and also avoid the practice of selling food products at exorbitant rates and also above MRP prices. They should sell `Amma’ brand drinking water (retailed by the state government at Rs 10 per bottle),” he said.
While Vishal has raised a long-pending concern of cinema-goers, the timing of his statement – on the day of the final round of negotiations with the state government -did raise a few eyebrows. In fact, on Friday , he participated in the meeting with chief minister Edappadi K Palanis wami along with theatre owners and distributors.
While Vishal was firm on releasing new films only after government withdraws the tax, a few theatre owners met a minister on Thursday separately and blamed Vishal for the stalemate. “Vishal was very upset when he got to know this, and hence hit back at theatres,” a source told.
By Friday afternoon, theatre owners asked producers to bring down the high production cost of Tamil films and also stop paying huge sums, in crores, as fee to heroes. “The parking fee issue is in the Supreme Court and hence I cannot comment on that. We have been selling food products only at MRP prices and not above. If any theatre does that, we will take action. We are willing to permit the government to put up Amma water stalls, if it wants,” Abirami S Ramanathan, president, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association, said.
“On their part, let the producers bring down the cost of production of Tamil films, which have become unviable.Vishal has raised issues relating to Rs 10, we are raising the issue of up to Rs 40 crore being paid to heroes,” he said.
