Breaking his silence on the ongoing cinema theatre shutdown in Tamil Nadu,veteran actor Rajinikanth took to Twitter on 5 July and appealed to the state government to consider their plea.
The theatres have been shut, as a mark of protest against the government's decision to levy 30 percent entertainment tax over the newly implemented GST, which puts them in the 28 percent tax slab.
This also comes two days after actor Kamal Haasan, also extended his support to the protest.
Addressing media persons in Chennai on Monday, Kamal had said,
The entire industry is gathering together and we shall speak as one voice soon.
Earlier, actor Siddharth hit out at both the state and the centre for the confusion caused by GST, and also pinned the blame on the Tamil Nadu government for punishing Tamil cinema for years, by fostering a culture of bribes.
Though the Goods and Services Tax came into effect from 1 July, the protests have been ongoing even before its implementation.
Many theatre owners and producers have lashed out against the 'double tax' that was being levied.
In June, President of the Tamil Nadu Film Chamber of Commerce, Abirami Ramanathan, asked the state to follow the tax slab being implemented by other southern states.
For perspective, a Rs 100 ticket in the neighbouring states (Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka) would cost Rs 118 post-GST. However, in Tamil Nadu, the double tax would make result in the same ticket, costing Rs 148.
(This article was originally published in The News Minute)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)