Kerala waives leisure tax for theatres

In a transfer to assist the movie trade within the state, the Kerala authorities on Monday determined to waive leisure tax for theatres from January to March 2021 together with 50 per cent discount within the fastened costs on electrical energy through the lockdown interval since March final yr.
The determination was taken after Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce officers met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram.
“The state government has decided to exempt cinema theatres from entertainment tax from January to March 2021. The government has also decided to reduce the fixed charges by 50 per cent,” the chief minister’s workplace mentioned in a launch.
In the assembly, it was additionally determined that the property tax, which ought to have been paid to native our bodies earlier than March 31, 2020, may be paid in month-to-month installments. The authorities additionally knowledgeable that it can’t take any determination on the skilled tax.
“The validity of various licenses for the cinemas from the local bodies, electrical inspectorate films division, building fitness, health, fire force have been extended till March 31,” the state authorities mentioned.
The assembly was chaired by the chief minister and attended by Power minister M M Mani, Minister for native self-government, A C Moideen, Kerala State Electricity Board Chairman N S Pillai, amongst others.
“The chief minister understood the difficulties faced by the film fraternity and assured us of all the help. With such an assurance in hand, our organisations will meet at Ernakulam today itself and decide on the opening of cinemas,” Antony Perumbavoor, a producer and officer bearer of one of many movie associations, instructed reporters after the assembly.
Earlier, the state authorities had lifted restrictions on theatres and mentioned it may very well be opened from January 5 with solely 50 per cent occupancy and adhering to strict COVID-19 pointers. However, the Kerala Film Chamber Of Commerce (KFCC) determined to maintain the theatres shut in defiance till their calls for have been met by the federal government. Now that KFCC’s essential calls for to renew movie exhibition have been granted by the federal government, theatres are anticipated to reopen quickly.
Mammootty, Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Asif Ali, Kunchacko Boban, Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly, Tovino Thomas and Dileep took to social media and thanked the chief minister for saying concessions for the movie trade.
Mohanlal expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the CM for saying “concessions to energise Malayalam cinema”.
Mammootty mentioned the transfer might revive the Malayalam movie trade which was in disaster.
“Lots of respect going out to our Honorable Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan for his efforts to breathe life back into the struggling Malayalam film industry,” Dulquer Salmaan posted on Facebook.
“The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone and I sincerely hope his efforts will help pull everyone in the industry back on their feet,” he added.
The newest growth is certain to deliver some cheers to the followers of Vijay, whose movie Master is ready to hit screens on January 13. Till as we speak, a cloud of uncertainty was looming over the movie’s launch in Kerala as a result of deadlock between the federal government and the KFCC.
Efforts are additionally on to type the fee points between the distributors and exhibitors. According to reviews, theatre homeowners owe about Rs 16 crore to producers over movies that have been launched earlier than the pandemic.
(With inputs from Entertainment Desk)