Kamal Haasan has threatened to quit the film industry if the 28% GST tax on Tamil films is not rolled back soon. He has appealed to the Centre not to view Tamil films, whose revenue is not on par with Hindi films, on the same level as Bollywood films.
The uniform General Services & Tax (GST) comes into effect from July 1 onwards. The Centre has decided to impose 28% tax on films irrespective of the language in which they are made. Kollywood folks have already registered their opposition to the proposed tax structure. Kamal Haasan has condemned this while speaking at the South Indian Film Chamber on Friday.
“Films are not like gambling taking place in casinos,” Kamal Haasan said and added that film-making is an art and ought to be treated as such.
“We welcome national integrity at all levels but at the same time, Tamil films can’t be viewed on par with Hindi films. I have been in films right from my birth and have no life other than the one related to films. In fact, I learnt how to speak only after coming into films,” he added.
“Thousands of employees/workers are dependent heavily on the income earned via films and film-making; we also need to pay income tax along with the GST tax which won’t be fair. Centre should reconsider this tax limit; if GST on Tamil films is not reduced to 12%, I would seriously consider quitting films forever,” he further added.
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