Double taxation for ‘dubbed films’ demanded

Telugu film industry pleads with TS, AP govts to levy twofold entertainment tax on non-Telugu films

Hyderabad: Once more the demand for double taxation for dubbed films has surfaced with Tamil star Suriya’s “Rakshasudu” opening in 400-and-odd theatres on a par with the big Telugu film “Pandaga Chesko” starring Ram and Rakul.

"In Tamil Nadu, entertainment tax for dubbed movies is pegged at 30 per cent and in Karnataka the tax varies between 40 per cent and 50 per cent. But in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the entertainment tax is fixed at just 20 per cent (effectively works out to 16.5 per cent per ticket).

It is high time that the Telangana and AP governments doubled the tax to enable Telugu films to survive and flourish,” said Prassana Kumar, general secretary, Telugu Film Producers Council. “Our general body has given a representation to the governments. We hope that the dubbed movies would be curtailed to give more space for 15-and-odd Telugu heroes” added Kumar.

Dubbed films have not done well at box office in 2015. A few producers, who made huge investments in dubbed film, like “Uttama Villian” starring Kamal Hassan, “Yentha Vaadu Gani” starring Ajith and “Rakshasudu” had burnt their fingers. According to a distributor, Telugu producers of these movies had lost around Rs 15 crores this year.

“Despite talented actors Kamal Hassan and Surya are aggressively promoting their films in two Telugu-speaking states, audience did not patronise them" said producer C N Rao. He was surprised as even a mighty star like Rajnikanth was unable to pull in crowds for his films “Vikrama Simha” and “Lingaa.”

By bvs prakash