‘No show’ at cinemas leaves movie buffs with fewer options

There are at least 12 cinema theatres in Puducherry and the government is losing nearly ₹3 lakh every day on tax because of the closure. A view of a theatre on Kamaraj Salai.   | Photo Credit: S_S_KUMAR

Puducherry theatre owners continue strike against entertainment tax

With cinema theatres in Puducherry having been shut for nearly a fortnight now, people of Puducherry are left with just two options: either go to Providence Mall or watch films on television.

Even as the theatre owners continue their strike demanding withdrawal of entertainment tax, film distributors in Chennai have made it clear that they will not distribute films till the government withdraws the entertainment tax.

Thennarcot-Pondy Thiraipada Viniyogasthargal Sangam Pondy, in a communication to theatre owners of Puducherry this week, stated that they would not distribute films to the theatres in Puducherry till the government withdrew the entertainment tax.

GST burden

G. Sundar, secretary, Thennarcot-Pondy Thiraipada Viniyogasthargal Sangam Pondy, said that earlier the theatre owners were paying 25% of their earnings as entertainment tax to the government.

“They would provide a statement for the rest 75% and from this we would get our share from the owners. However, from the time GST has been implemented, the theatre owners are losing 53% on tax alone,” he also said.

He added that the theatre owners were paying 28% GST and shelling out 25% from their earnings to entertainment tax.

“We get our share only from the 47 per cent earned. This is causing huge loss to us. Hence, we will not distribute films to the theatres in Puducherry unless the government withdraws the entertainment tax,” he said.

Lucky R. Perumal, state president, Pondicherry State Cine Exhibitors’ Association and Balaji Theatre owner underlined that they would continue their protest till the government took a decision in their favour and brought in an amendment to exempt them from entertainment tax.

There are at least 12 cinema theatres in Puducherry and the government is losing nearly ₹3 lakh every day on tax because of the closure.

Puducherry Municipal Commissioner S.Ganessin said that the government was yet to take a decision on the entertainment tax issue. “The theatre owners are willing to screen the films while the distributors are protesting. The government is yet to decide whether to withdraw the tax or retain it,” he said.