The Tamil film industry that has been very vocal in its displeasure about service tax being imposed on actors was disappointed with their demands not being met in the budget.
Several prominent film personalities have been complaining for two years that the service tax introduced by the previous UPA government had hit the industry hard. Actor and film-maker Kamal Haasan had said before that the service tax might lead to hoarding of black money.
“The film industry continues to be in a lurch,” said Ravi Kottarakara, president of the Film Federation of India. “We have been demanding respite from service tax and concessions like cheap power for exhibitors but have been ignored again. As we celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema, the industry is on the verge of collapse,” he said.
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G. Dhananjayan, film producer and columnist, said the industry’s most consistent demand for two years had not been addressed. He said it was surprising that the entertainment sector was ignored despite it being in a difficult situation.